Water... The Essence of Life

As a home-school mom for many years, I am well versed in a number of home remedies for a variety of ailments. Having a large family, and limited income meant finding inexpensive, easy, and readily available solutions for the many sicknesses, pains and injuries that plagued my children.

One remedy seemed to recur most often. Water. It is true that the planet is composed mostly of water. And our bodies are made up of over half water. It turns out that drinking adequate amounts of water will alleviate many health issues. I will list many of them, but studies are still being done on all the things water can do for us.

Drinking adequate amounts of water allows the body to purify, cleanse and balance itself. Water is important to detoxify and remove wastes. It is also essential in the production and release of hormones and red blood cells. Water ensures the smooth functioning of the bodies systems, including the digestive, reproductive and immune system.

How much water to drink each day depends on many factors: your age, the climate, the weather, your activity level. Many different things effect our need for hydration, but a good rule of thumb is eight glasses per day. An easy way to monitor your water intake, is to notice the color of your urine. It should be pale or light yellow. If your urine is dark yellow, or has a very strong odor, this could indicate highly concentrated urine, and a need for more water.

Some of the symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression, cravings, cramps and headache. If you notice any of these, try drinking a glass of water before medicating your body. It may just be thirsty.

In addition to relieving the above symptoms, water can also help with weight loss. Often, we feel hungry, tired and cranky. We reach for a snack, only to feel the symptoms return within an hour. Sometimes our perceptual wires get crossed, and when our body is asking for a drink of water, we offer food. The food is good, but the thirst remains. It you are feeling groggy in the afternoon, drink a glass of ice water before reaching for a snack.

Taken before meals, a large glass of water fills the reservoir of our stomach. This decreases the amount of room left for food, so we fill full faster, thereby eating less.

Finally, water is helpful for weight loss because drinking ice cold water increases your metabolism. This is not a permanent increase, but it takes more calories to warm the water and ingest it, giving you a boost.

In addition to weight loss, water is a great remedy for hangovers. A lot of discomfort from hangovers comes from dehydration. To avoid the worst repercussion, alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water. Not only will you feel better in the morning, your wallet will thank you as well.

Water keeps us young. Hydrated skin looks smoother, is softer and more elastic than dried out skin. While applying an external moisturizer helps, it does not replace the importance of thorough hydration. Beauty begins on the inside, and the detoxification provided by water is more important to longevity than many other factors.

Easy. Inexpensive. Refreshing. Water. The universal remedy.