The Positive Voices

Are you looking to improve your health? Drink more water! With so much going on around us, it is easy to forget the little things that can improve our health, and we often become desensitized to everyday commodities, including water, the most fundamental substance on the planet. While there are an estimated one billion people on earth who are without access to clean water, it is all around us, in the Great Lake State, everywhere, and we have become ultra-acclimated to it. We neglect it, reject it, and rarely give it the credit it deserves. Yes, we know water covers 3/4 of our planet, composes 2/3 of our bodies, and is the basis Helping you hydrate yourself to health of life as we know it, but we often forget just how dependent we are on it both collectively and as individuals. Every system and cell in our bodies depends on water—it flushes toxins, carries nutrients, and is the medium in which biochemical reactions take place. Water makes up 70-80% of our brain, 75% of our muscle, 80% of our blood, and 20% of our bones. The health benefits of water are endless. Water is the catalyst for losing weight and keeping it off—it suppresses appetite, helps metabolize stored fat, aids in digestion, and helps constipation. Water allows for better exercise, reduces the risk of cramps and sprains, and cushions joints. Water can help a headache, relieve fatigue, increase energy, and elevate mood and productivity. Furthermore, staying hydrated can reduce your risk of cancer and heart attack, boost your immune system, and even keep your skin healthier. With this in mind, drink more water! Recommended guidelines for appropriate water intake vary according to height, weight, gender, and activity level. Even though there is no perfect method to calculate sufficient water intake, according to Mayo Clinic, the average fluid loss of an adult is about 10 cups per day. With food accounting for 20% of fluid intake, two liters (a little more than 8 cups) of fluid per day will typically replace fluid loss. If you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce six or more cups of clear or slightly yellow colored urine each day, you are probably getting enough water. So, let water accompany you: to work, to play, to exercise, to relax; and let this serve as a reminder to think of the important things we take for granted, including the water that sustains us. Now, run and pour yourself a nice refreshing glass of pure Michigan water… and drink to your health! Brought to you by Catherine’s Health Center, working to build healthier communities. Check out Catherine’s Health Center at www.catherineshc.org