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Water, the #1 Sustainer of Life 

 

We've been told for years that we need to be drinking 64oz of water a day to maintain hydration and good health.  Some say we should be drinking even more than that every day. I've found this to be easier said than done but I do try to reach this goal, most days.

There are a number of health benefits to staying hydrated and some serious symptoms of dehydration.  So, in spite of frequent bathroom visits, it is definitely advisable to stay well hydrated. According to www.medicinenewstoday.com, these are some of the benefits of staying hydrated.

  • It lubricates the joints. ...

  • It forms saliva and mucus. ...

  • It boosts skin health and beauty. ...

  • It cushions the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues. ...

  • It regulates body temperature. ...

  • It flushes body waste. ...

  • It helps maintain blood pressure. ...

  • The airways need it.

Since this sounds a little over simplified, I thought I would list some causes of dehydration, beyond not drinking enough water on a regular basis. These other causes of dehydration are basically due to health problems a person might be experiencing.

  • Diarrhea, vomiting. Severe, acute diarrhea — that is, diarrhea that comes on suddenly and violently — can cause a tremendous loss of water and electrolytes in a short amount of time. ...

  • Fever. ...

  • Excessive sweating. ...

  • Increased urination

If you have any of these problems, it is even more important to drink plenty of water, to offset the effects of these health issues.

Some people I've talked to about this subject have told me they don't get thirsty or they hate the "taste" of water.  I've found, and this is backed by research, that women have a much more difficult time remembering to drink enough water to stay hydrated.  Supposedly, we just don't get thirsty like most men do; feeling thirsty is obviously what reminds us to drink water.  Besides that, none of us ladies like having to make those frequent trips to the bathroom.

The other issue, water just doesn't "taste"  good, is usually someone's excuse to drink things like coffee, soda, beer etc., thinking they are getting hydration that way. Unfortunately drinking these things does quite the opposite. Coffee and beer are dehydrators so people drinking them should always drink not less water but more. It is usually recommended that you drink an extra 8 oz of water, to offset the dehydrating effects, for every 8 oz of coffee, beer or any other alcoholic drink. Sadly, most people who prefer these beverages don't even drink the recommended 64oz of water per day. I know, I've been one of those people.

I know you are all probably aware of this, but there are ways to make a glass of water taste better with lemon or lime juice or adding pieces of fruits, vegetables and some herbs to your water.  I'll talk more about this at a later date, as well as other beverages that do help you stay hydrated.

If you recognize yourself as someone who is probably even a little dehydrated most of the time, I would challenge you to make an effort to drink more water every day, while attempting to walk a healthy path.

Drink To Your Health

Glass of Water.jpg

In my humble opinion, emotional health is one of the most important components of Walking a Healthy Path. Today, I’ll write a short introduction to this side of being healthy and the challenges created by depression..

 

It has long been known that what we think and how we feel not only affects our mental health but also our physical health.  With all the craziness going on in our world, almost everyone experiences bouts of depression, anywhere from just occasionally to chronically.  Whether a person’s depression is caused by a life situation or has a biochemical origin, being “down” can cause a number of physical symptoms such as a lack of motivation,sleep problems, fatigue, chronic pain and digestive issues

 

After suffering the grief of losing my youngest son last year, sadly, I’m speaking from experience.  I would say grief of any kind leaves us very susceptible to some level of depression. In my case, I felt unmotivated and lost for several months. Since Aaron was diagnosed with cancer and passed 8 months later, I have had digestive issues, sleep deprivation, brain fog and 2 bouts of vertigo. Even though I have pulled out of the depression for a while, the next “first '' would come along and I would go back down.  I’m not typically a depressed person, but it does takes some real effort to consciously pull myself out of the hole.   It's been a tough year and I’m pretty sure I’ve aged physically more than a year over this time and I don’t know yet how much permanent damage this trauma has done to my over all physical health.

   

During these times, a person’s support community is so very important!  I’m not sure what I would have done without my wonderful friends and family, while I’ve gone through this natural state of grief.  If a person suffering from grief doesn’t have this kind of support, or even if they do finding a good grief counselor to talk to is very important

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Many people who suffer from more than occasional depression tend to self medicate, using alcohol or other drugs. This usually starts at a young age, creating a dependency on these substances.  Self medication is a subject for another blog about the things that derail a person’s walk on a healthy path and what can be done to help get him or her back on track. Ironically, liquor and many drugs are considered depressants so a person who self medicates is just making their problem even worse.

 

No doubt the saddest effect of chronic depression is suicide, which is on the rise in the U.S.. According to a CU Boulder study, almost 50,000 people in the U.S. took their own lives in 2022, up 3% from the previous year.  95% of all suicides can be linked to depression or some other mental disorder. It’s important to recognize the warning signs of depression, which can include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and isolation.  If you recognize these signs in yourself or in someone close to you, it is very important to seek help before these problems escalate into serious plans to commit suicide.

 

If this is a subject that you can relate to or just interests you, stay tuned for future blogs about how a person’s emotional state can affect their walk on a healthy path and how to get back on the right path. 

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Til later then...

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