As a holistic practitioner, I regularly see clients who say that they drink copious amounts of water, yet their blood work shows that they may be dehydrated.
What are some of the signs of dehydration? You might think that ‘thirst’ is one of the main signals of dehydration, and in some people, it is. However, there are other signals that you may be missing.
Bloating or abdominal discomfort after drinking water is often a sign that one is dehydrated. I hear from people all the time that they do not drink water because it makes them feel full. While it is true that water does help dull an appetite, it should not make you feel uncomfortable or bloated.
Water does not taste good. I frequently hear people say this. I, myself do not like the taste of most waters. However, I put a bit of peppermint or lemon essential oil in it, and it tastes wonderful. I also often put concentrated cranberry concentrate in my water. It helps me consume the recommended dosage, (one-half my body weight in ounces).
Food cravings: caffeine, sugar, chocolate, all point to possible dehydration.
Lack of energy: The energy of the body is formed via an electrical current between water and minerals inside the cells. When there is not enough water, no current can be generated, hence fatigue sets in.
Pain: Rheumatoid Arthritis, angina, dyspepsia, low back pain, Fibromyalgia, neuralgia, migraine, and hangover headaches are often the result of dehydration.
Adequate water intake is necessary in order to cleanse the cells from toxic material. If we do not have enough water, then we will not be able to do the necessary inter-cellular housekeeping to keep our bodies functioning in a healthy way.
So how is it that we drink water but remain dehydrated? As we age, the cell-wall gradient of our cells becomes impervious to the absorption of water. So while we do drink adequate amounts, we do not retain or absorb enough to be healthy. When this is the case, we must take steps to reverse this process.
For further information, please read Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by Fereydoon Batmanghelidj
Until next time,
Dr. Polly
Proper water consumption is definitely misunderstood. I picked up on several things I wasn’t aware of from your article.
Very informative article! Polly, I remember when your children were young, you would place a slice of apple or orange in their water. Thank you for the tips.