Tuesday Recipe, Water

Ok, I know it is really not a recipe, but I do have some in store for you, so hang on. Let us talk a little about water. Our bodies are made up mostly of water, even our brains are about 80% water. When we are dehydrated, we can have a myriad of symptoms:
Headaches
Insomnia
Dry skin
Sugar cravings
Fatigue
Irritability
Constipation
Dizziness
Thirst
Low urine output

In sever cases it causes:
Very excessive thirst
Lack of urination
Low heart rate
Rapid heart rate
Fever

I think you get the point, some not so pleasant symptoms. This begs the question then, how much water do you need to drink? I do not have that answer for you. You have to figure that one out on your own. You have to love it when people tell you that. Everyone's body is different and needs different amounts. Amounts can also depend on where you live, some where hot and humid, cold and dry, high or low altitudes. If you travel to a different area, this can all change the amount you will need. There really is no set answer, it just depends.

If you are someone who has not been drinking water for some time, you may need more initially, to re hydrate your body. Once this is accomplished, try different amounts to see how your body feels. If you drink a lot of water, do you feel like you are floating away, your urine has no color  in it? These can be signs you are drinking to much. If you drink less, do you have some of the symptoms of dehydration again? Then you will need to increase the amount. Play with it and see when you feel your best. Remember, if the season changes, you travel or move, you will need to reassess your intake. Also, if you eat more fruit and veggies, this can change the amount you need as well due to the water content of these foods. As you can see it can be complicated. The best thing is to listen to your body.

Our bodies recognize thirst as hunger. If we are hungry or thirsty, our body will have the same way of telling us, hunger pains. If you are new to listening to your body, and not sure if you are hungry or thirsty, the best thing to do is drink a glass of water first. Wait about 15 minutes and then reassess. Are you still hungry, then eat something, if not, well you should understand that as being thirsty. You can apply this same strategy if you are craving sugar or something not healthy for you. More likely than not, if you drink a glass of water, you will no longer crave this food. Our bodies are interesting.

If you are like I used to be, drinking water might be kind of boring and not something you enjoy. Here is where the recipes come in.

Put lemon in your water. In fact, this is a great way to detox your liver. Every morning, drink a warm glass of water with a fresh squeezed lemon in it. Lemon is a natural liver detoxifier and makes your water taste much better.

My current favorite recipe for my water is:
lime
grapefruit
I fill a glass pitcher with spring water. Wash the lime and grapefruit. Slice is up and place in the water. Place a lid on it and put it in the fridge, if you like it cold. Enjoy!

I have read of people liking to put in cucumbers, rosemary or sage. Try different fruits and spices to find what you like best. The great added benefit is what the fruit and spices offer as well, not only taste but nutrients as well.

As a side note, by drinking ice cold water, you can burn a few more calories a day. Our bodies maintain a certain internal temperature, ice cold water is not the temperature. Our body has to heat the water up, which takes calories. I am not saying this is going to be your miracle, just a little helper!

Begin drinking more water and see how your body feels.
In the Peace of this most Blessed Season,
Jenn