Go With the Flow

Water is such a powerful element. It has the ability to go where it is allowed to flow. It can be a soft as a whisper or as powerful as a ton of bricks. Talk about contrast! Water is also very healing. One of my favorite things to do is be in water, whether it is the shower, bath, ocean or hot spring I always find it refreshing and relaxing.

Water also plays an important role in our body's functioning. The fact that the body can be up to 75% water (at birth) is pretty amazing. As an adult the average is about 60% for men and 55% for women. These percentages just confirm the importance of water intake. If you are not taking in adequate amounts of water the basic processes of life will not function to their optimal ability. My general rule of thumb is to drink half of your weight in ounces. For example, if I weighed 120 pounds I would drink 60 ounces per day. That is approximately two liters or two quarts. If you are not already doing this or close to doing this I recommend to take baby steps in building up to the full amount. This will be an easier adjustment for you body.

Fun Facts
Seventy-five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This likely applies to half of the world population. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers. A mere 2 percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. (Source: HDR's SDWA Safe Drinking Act Newsletter) Talk about a powerful "drug"!

Water Quality
Water quality is also important. I had recently been posed the question what to look for when considering a water filtration system. The important things to consider are the elimination of chlorine, volatile organic compounds, cysts such as giardia, endocrine disrupters, lead, mercury, pcb and MTBE to name a few of the important ones. When considering a filtration system think about the cost over the course of the year. Purchasing a pitcher filter has a low up front cost but over the year could end up being more expensive than purchasing a filtration unit that will last for many years. I personally use the Multipure filtration unit and have been very happy with this. Other options would be a reverse osmosis system. I suggest doing a search and seeing which filtration unit will work for your needs and your budget. It is an important investment that truly can make a difference in your health.