Drink Your Way To Better Health

One of the ways to instantly start feeling better is to drink, drink, drink!

And no, I don’t mean juice, soda, smoothies, sweet tea, coffee, frappuccinos, mocha lattes, or wine.

I mean water! And lots of it.

Let’s Start With The Facts

Did you know up to 75% of the American population falls short of the water recommendations given by the Institute of Medicine? This means that most of us are walking around in a chronic state of dehydration. Most of our body is made up of water! Our brains, eyes, muscles, joints, skin, intestines, kidneys, liver, and blood are mainly water. If you don’t adopt an optimal hydration habit quick this can lead to kidney disease, high blood pressure, premature aging and many other ailments.

Young children and the elderly are the most susceptible.  Water is essential for proper digestion, absorption of nutrients, metabolism of medications and absorption of vitamins and supplements. It clears up your skin and last, but not least, it facilitates weight loss and the flushing out of toxins.

Symptoms Of Dehydration

One of the most essential habits to staying healthy is staying hydrated. I find myself having the hydration conversation with my patients multiple times a day.

Some of the complaints associated with being dehydrated and what my patients come in complaining about include:

Dehydration is defined as a harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body. If you wait to feel thirsty, it’s too late, you are already dehydrated by that point.

Because of their high sugar content, these drinks have a diuretic effect and make you lose water.

Other signs of being dehydrated is dark and cloudy urine and skin tenting, which happens where the skin is very slow to return to normal after being pinched.

Water is Medicine

One of the first questions I ask a patient that comes to my office complaining of any of the symptoms associated with dehydration is, “What do you drink all day?”

The answer is usually not water.

Rather than prescribing any medication for the relief of these symptoms, my recommendation initially is to increase their water intake and refrain from consuming any sugary drinks.

My recommendation for optimal hydration is simple.

Drink half your weight in ounces of water.

This may sound like a lot but trust me, you will reap countless health benefits and feel great!

When they return to my office after about thirty days for a follow-up, they usually report most if not all their initial complaints have been resolved.

My OHealth Tips For Staying Hydrated

So if you’re ready to start feeling more energy, have better-looking skin, shed pounds and just feel great, here are 4 lifestyle changes you can start today.

1. Prepare your daily intake ahead of time. I recommend glass or metal containers. It is best to drink throughout the day, little by little. I like to advise my patients to set timers and reminders on their smart phones to take a drink.
2. Make ginger water, (my personal favorite), especially if you have joint pain headaches acne or tummy complaints. Cut, peel, and chop about an inch of ginger root and add to a large pot of boiling water. Set it aside and let steep for at least thirty min, the longer the stronger. You can strain out the ginger or leave it in the water, your choice. Drink warm or cold. Ginger is very medicinal, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral and anti-cancer properties.
3. If you don’t like the taste of water, add fresh lemon, strawberry, mint leaves, cucumber, watermelon or pineapple…you get the idea. Plus you get the added benefit of disease-fighting antioxidants.
4. Water is vital for your health and there is nothing else like it. Enjoy every sip or gulp….feel grateful for the fact that we have an abundance of drinkable water. Raise your glass or bottle, smile, and say cheers! Cheers to life, love, and an optimal hydration habit!

To your Ohealth,

Dr. T