Rochelle Hanson

By Rochelle Hanson

Coffee. Tea. Juice. Pop.

It’s de-caff. It’s diet. It’s sugar free.

With so many beverage options on the market, it’s easy to forget about water. If the first thing you drank this morning was coffee, you’re probably dehydrated and you don’t even know it.

So, what is dehydration anyway? Is it really that big of a deal?

Dehydration is the loss of water and salts necessary for normal body function. Most people are aware that the body is about 60% water. Your body will not function properly when you are dehydrated.

Take your liver, for instance. Its main responsibility is to turn stored fat into energy. Without water, it simply can not do its job. Your liver also serves as back-up for your kidneys. The primary role of the kidneys is to filter toxins from the blood. Your kidneys also can not function without water. So if you’re dehydrated and your kidneys have to call on your liver for support, naturally your liver will be less productive because it’s doing extra work. So if you don’t give your body enough water, you’re setting yourself up to store fat.

But what happens if you don’t feel thirsty? Do you still need to drink water? There’s water in coffee, and tea is mostly water. Isn’t that good enough?

Simply stated, the answer is no. Nothing can take the place of pure, clean water. Caffeine is a natural diuretic. Which means it’s like a drug that reduces the amount of water in the body. Let’s not even bring up the fact that it’s an addictive stimulant which has a whole slew of other negative effects. You can read more articles about this at www.mercola.com

Don’t like the taste of water? Try squeezing a lemon into it. Not only will it taste better, it will help to alkalize the body. Not sure if you’re getting enough water?  Look at your pee. If it’s bright orange you’re in a bad state. It’s supposed to be pale yellow. Don’t rely on your thirst as an indicator.

As soon as you get out of bed, drink two glasses of water. We all get dehydrated overnight. Drink water before you eat, even if it’s just 5-10 mins before. Don’t drink while you eat, that will dilute your digestive enzymes. You can drink water after eating, just wait a while before you start. When you need a snack, drink water. The craving will probably pass. If it’s hot outside, drink water. You’re loosing water through your skin. If you have acne, drink water. It’s the best beauty treatment on the market. Got a headache? Drink water. Constipated? Drink water. Stuck in traffic? Always keep a bottle handy, and drink more water. And if you find that you need to use the bathroom far too often, don’t let that discourage you. You’re detoxing. This is good. Your body will soon adjust.

Please note: you may need to drink more than the typical 8 glasses of water a day, especially if you’re overweight. The larger you are, the bigger your metabolic load. We’ve already discussed that your body will not turn stored fat into energy if you are not getting enough water. Some doctors say you may actually need to drink an extra glass of water for every 25 lbs of extra fat.

Hmm. This could be why I can’t get rid of those last few stubborn pounds. Excuse me for a moment, I need to go drink some water. Join me?

Rochelle Hanson is a freelance writer and natural health enthusiast, offering tips and practical ideas on natural health and wellness. Check out her website at simplynaturalideas.com

Photo by Ardean Peters

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