By now we’ve all heard how important it is to stay hydrated! Dehydration can happen more easily than we think, even when drinking tons of water. And the effects go beyond what most of us imagine.
I ran track as a kid. My team was encouraged to drink 100 ounces of water per day to counteract the fluids being lost during practice. Most of us felt okay, performed well, and had no issues. At one meet, my teammate Erin collapsed mid-race seemingly out of nowhere. She was one of the best runners and was completely healthy up to that point.
We found out later that because Erin was drinking so much water, she was actually losing the electrolytes her body needed. She had a severe mineral deficiency and her body couldn’t support that level of exertion.
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? “WHITE JUG SYNDROME” IS THE CULPRIT.
When someone consumes too much purified water (meaning all the electrolytes have been removed), that water actually strips the body of minerals as it passes through. This depletes our sodium, potassium, and other minerals.
Our bodies depend on adequate hydration to flush waste and toxins, transport nutrients, regulate circulation and internal pressure, and function on a cellular level. Properly absorbing water is also key for the endocrine system, maintaining a healthy temperature, and lubricating our joints.
The Human Garage clinic performed over 10,000 hydration tests and found that 88% of the client base was chronically dehydrated. It takes 7 to 10 years to become pathological. Chronic dehydration causes a cascading series of health challenges, such as:
* Chronic pain
* Adrenal shutdown
* Poor fascial elasticity (leading to bad posture)
* Headaches and brain fog
* Depression
* ADD/ ADHD
* Hormonal imbalances
* Muscle cramps
* Fatigue
* Allergies
* Asthma
* High blood pressure and cholesterol
* Ulcers
Many of the issues above are treated via petroleum-based prescriptions. These kinds of medications are made from the waste byproducts of the oil industry and are toxic to the body. Prescription medication is also NOT effective to treat the root cause of dehydration. The only way to solve these issues from the ground up is to bring the body into balance.
There are several ways to tell if you are dehydrated (no matter how much water you’ve been chugging!):
THE PINCH TEST
This test works in a pinch… but bear in mind, it doesn’t always give you the full picture.
Place your palm on a flat surface and pinch the skin on the back of your hand, pulling it up. Your skin should return immediately to its normal position if you’re hydrated. If you’re dehydrated, the skin will slowly recede back to its natural state and it will take longer than 1 second.
CHECK YOUR PEE
Urine is light yellow when we are well hydrated and becomes darker the less water our bodies have. Remember that supplements or medications can change the color of urine and take that into account when checking the bowl.
TAKE A BWA (BIOCHEMICAL WELLNESS ANALYSIS) TEST
The BWA is what the HG clinic used on thousands of patients to asses 14 different biomarkers including sodium and potassium levels. It can determine if someone is well hydrated or not.
There are many ways to fix and prevent chronic dehydration.
* Silica: this substance, and water, are the two most important building blocks of the human body. Minerals don’t get absorbed without silica! Add silica back into your diet with our Fascial Foundation™ supplement.
* Sea salt: adding a bit of sea salt to your food or water puts trace minerals back into your body.
* Fruits & veggies: produce usually has a high water content, especially cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes, celery, and spinach. Fruits and vegetables also have lots of minerals and nutrients that allow our bodies to absorb the water they are carrying.
* Coconut water: there is so much potassium in coconut water! Make sure what you buy is unpasteurized to maintain the electrolyte content.
* Room temperature water: is absorbed more easily by the body and uses less energy.
* Meal time: Don’t drink water with your meal! Wait 30 minutes before and after eating so that your stomach acid isn’t diluted and can properly break down nutrients.
Happy Hydrating!