4 Tips to Understanding Water and Hydration pt. 1

Hydrating, I feel like it's this thing we hear a lot about, but do you really understand it? You might think, "I know water is good for me," but do you know why? I'm going out on a limb and saying that you don't truly understand this, because 99% of people I talk to and clients I work with, tell me, I could probably be drinking more water. My intense curiosity for exploring things has lead me into the realm of earth-based nutrition and I have been really blown away by some things I've been learning about water alone in the last couple months. Who knew it was this vast and important item to our health on more than just a, "Yeah, our bodies are made up water, so I should drink it," type level. In this article today I am going to try breaking down some of this importance to you, without overwhelming you or going too science-y. 

Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration

First up - especially if you already feel like you could be drinking more water, or maybe feel like you should be drinking more water: I just want to let you know that whatever ails you right now in your body, there is a good chance you can fix it up or diminish it completely by drinking more water. 

Common signs & symptoms of dehydration:
••Headaches / Migraines
••Aches / Pains
••Muscle Soreness
••Feeling Stiff
••Fatigue / Tired / Drowsy
••Lack of Energy
••Grumpy / Moodiness
••UTIs
••Weight Gain
••High cholesterol
••Premature Aging
••Autoimmune disease
••Light headedness
​••Dry Mouth

Do you get the point? Start with water.

Understanding Cells

​I've always known that our bodies are made up cells but I never truly grasped it. I’m sure you have heard of cells too, but did you know that they are the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms? Let me try to explain this better:

First, there is you. You are an organism. An organism compiled of a bunch of different systems all working together as best they can to keep you functioning properly. Yes, your body does want to functional properly. These systems, that make up who you are, are built together with organs - for example the organs that run your respiratory system include the nose, mouth, trachea, bronchi, and lungs (plus a few more) - and each of these organs are sewn together with different types of tissues. Imagine holding a lung in your hands, it’s made up entirely of tissues. Each of these types of tissues are made up of a bunch of different cells. You are essentially entirely made up cells and cells are made up entirely of chemical reactions - maybe you’ve heard of or are familiar with atoms and molecules...but that's whole other thang.

In short, because apparently I could write a whole essay on cells and hydration alone, you are made up entirely of cells and your cells can only function when properly hydrated. If they don't have water, they get squishy and jumbled up, unable to move around like they are supposed to (smooth and free), and a literal thick, gushy, madness begins to happen on the cellular level within your body. 

​How much water?

A lot of people say they don't like to drink water because they don't like having to go to the bathroom all the time. Your body is a well oiled detoxing machine! No, I'm not talking about a juice cleanse or starving yourself. I'm talking about simple, every day shtuff, like the air we breathe in and the food we eat regularly. There are always pathogens and bacteria getting in to the body on a regular basis and the body is an expert at neutralizing these and passing them through you without any harm. If you really think peeing is annoying, I recommend trying to flip your perspective. I'd rather be hydrated, healthy, with frequent urination, than run-down, tired and grumpy, with a urinary tract infection (maybe I went a little too far out on that last one, but you get the idea.)

So how much to actually drink? There is oh so much information out there. I will share with you, from what I am personally learning in school, calculated through how much water our bodies tend to use and gain in a day through our ingestion and digestion of foods, you should be aiming for 6-8 cups of water per day. I'm going to give you a specific number of 7. That's 56oz of water (7 glasses x 8 ounces per cup =56 ounces). However, there is a however! 

Pay Attention to Your Pee

As I am a huge fan of getting away from numbers of all kinds and tuning in to your body as much as possible, I am going to share with you an extra tip that I like. Over time, on your health and wellness journey, no doubt you will learn how your body talks to you and how to respond as necessary. ​Here is one of those tips. I've included a little chart for you to have an idea of what the color of your urine is actually telling you. 

Note:

​The lighter your urine the more hydrated you are, however if your urine is showing no color it means that it is not holding any nutrients. If you can't stay out of the bathroom & your urine is uncolored, back off the water! In fact, ideally, you want to sip your water throughout the day. Also! Some vitamins turn your urine a bright yellow color. Check with your doctor if you have any concerns about this. It's important to know and I have far too many times heard, "my doctor didn't tell me that." They can't remember everything. Don't be afraid to ask!

​Recap

Just drink more water! & it most certainly helps if you add some tasty (totally real-from the earth) flavors as incentive, like fresh lemon/lime, fresh mint, frozen berries, or cucumber. This also adds antioxidants and electrolytes to your water as well - extra bonus! Do I even need to tell you to stay away from that store bought squeeze-it-in crap? Give the natural stuff a try and share your experience with becoming more hydrated in the comments! I love hearing the epiphanies people have ❤