Our society is chronically dehydrated
Fact: 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
Dehydration is a much more serious issue than people realize. At Connecting Hearts we want to raise your awareness of this issue so that you can make a more educated choice on how you can properly care for your health and hydration in the days that follow this article.
Sue Henderson, owner and founder of Connecting Hearts, personally interviewed an elderly woman in her 80’s who was in and out of the hospital for years. One day, a doctor told her that she needed to start drinking more water—specifically 2 liters a day. So, she followed his instructions and the result has been that she has remained out of the hospital for more than two years.
Fact: In 2004, nationwide 5.5 billion dollars were spent on hospital charges due to dehydration admission.
Wow, that is a lot of money that could be saved by Americans simply drinking more water. How many people lose their homes and find themselves in financial debt because they cannot pay their hospital bills?
Imagine living in a dehydrated state for 20 years (age 20-40). For clarity, the human body on average is around 60% water—your brain and heart are 73% water, your muscles and kidneys are 79% water, and your lungs are 83% water. Just like a plant or flower begins to shrivel up and die without enough water so does our body. It does not surprise me that our society is faced with so many illnesses. Our bodies are simply dying of thirst. How can the body fight off cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney failure, depression, etc. (the list is HUGE) if it does not have water?
And for seniors it becomes even more difficult because they begin to lose their thirst and taste for food. Medications also dehydrate them. And those around them are not stressing the importance of and reminding them enough to, “DRINK WATER”.
You may be saying to yourself, “Well, I drink lots of fluids.” Well, what kind of fluids? As a whole, our society is hydrating themselves with fluids that are not hydrating and that actually dehydrate the body. How? Sugar and caffeine push the water out of the body, making one go to the bathroom a lot—creating the illusion that, “Well, I go to the bathroom a lot, so I am hydrated.” But actually these fluids are squeezing the life of water out of your body, slowly decaying your body.
What fluids dehydrate the body?
- Coffee
- Soda
- Milk
- Flavored Arizona Tea*
- Flavored (i.e. fake) Lemonade* from the Pop Machine
- Flavored (i.e. fake) Juices* from the store
*check the ingredients of your drinks. If you don’t understand what it is, then it isn’t good for you.
What foods dehydrate the body?
- Sugar
- Bread
- Cheese
- Fried Foods
- Excessive Salt
- MSG
To name a few….
It is perfectly okay to drink and eat these things, but only in moderation. We want to bring awareness that these fluids and foods are NOT hydrating and we encourage people to reduce their intake of these products to 30% of their diet. Put more awareness and intention into drinking more water. You do want to be healthy right? Living a happier and more vibrant life? Or do you want to battle illness and disease for years?
The plant kingdom is such a perfect example of how water affects our health. When plants and trees get enough water they are bright, blooming and full of LIFE. When they don’t get enough water, the leaves turn brown and they begin to wither and die. We are the same.
How much water do I need to drink?
On average, the adult male needs 3 liters of water a day to stay healthy. The adult woman needs 2.5 liters of water a day. However, if you are drinking coffee, sweating, and eating lots of junk food then you will need to consume more water to compensate for the dehydrating factors of these foods and fluids.
You have the freedom of choice and the responsibility is yours. You can save money and live a healthier life by drinking water, or you can continue down the same path you are on.
Here is a list of SOME symptoms due to dehydration:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Confusion
- Light-headedness
- Irritability
- Anger
- Kidney failure
- Dry skin
- Wrinkly skin
- Cracked skin
- Weight gain
- Hydration affects the healthy function of EVERY organ in your body, EVERY cell, EVERYTHING!
When you start drinking more water, it is normal to feel more bloated in the first week. However, after a week it will help your body to regulate your healthy and normal body weight. If you are overweight, you will lose weight. If you are underweight, you will gain a little.
Results of hydration:
- More energy
- Clearer thoughts and concentration
- Happier mood
- Improved relationships
- Younger looking skin
- Less chance of being hospitalized
- Organs and body is more vibrant—like a plant that gets enough water is full of life
Make it your goal to drink 2 liters of water a day and encourage those around you to drink more water as well. If we help each other we can all live happier and healthier lives.