I love water. Water and herbal tea are all I drink. No alcohol, no soda, no coffee, no milk, no juice…
When my mentor recently asked about my love affair with drinking water she wanted an answer based on spirit, not facts. I’m going to give you both.
Beverage of Choice
Water is my beverage of choice for several reasons.
1. I love the way it tastes. Most of my life I’ve live on property with a well. I remember when we moved from town when I was about seven. I loved the first sip of that well water. (I know not all water tastes good. I definitely drink purified water when in town.)
2. I feel better when I drink adequate water.
- I have more energy.
- I think more clearly.
- My body moves more easily.
- I don’t get as hungry and therefore eat less.
The Facts
As a human you’re somewhere around 60% water (although I hear estimates as high as 90%.) Your dear brain is about 70% water. That’s one liquid mass between your ears.
All day water leaves your body—you sweat, you breath, you visit the bathroom. You’ve got to replenish that water.
If you want facts check out the book by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj .
He mentions a number of conditions that can be helped by drinking water including:
- Obesity
- Back pain
- Headaches
- Indigestion
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Depression
- Asthma and allergies
- And more…
In other words, most of the things that bother people in our modern world.
Could it be that simple? Worth a try if you’re experiencing any of the above.
How much is enough?
Several years ago one of my friends (I know interesting people) decided she wanted to see if she could drink too much water. The answer is, yes, you can drink too much, at least at one time. It’s called “water intoxication.” That’s not a problem if you’re drinking throughout your day.
If you’re like me you were taught to pay attention to thirst to know how much water to drink. If you think you’re drinking enough because you 1) don’t feel thirsty or 2) drink other beverages, you still might need more water.
What we call “thirst” is a sensation of dry mouth. It’s not the first sign that your body needs water. Some of the conditions I mentioned above can be signs of dehydration. By the time you feel thirsty you’re already dehydrated.
You’ve probably heard the 8-10 glasses a day rule. I like to listen to my body because sometimes that’s enough. Sometimes it’s not.
As to whether you can drink other beverages to substitute for your body’s water needs, I once heard someone ask, “Would you use carrot juice to wash your dishes?” Of course not. While some of your daily requirement for water comes from your food and other beverages you need the pure water too.
(If you have kidney or adrenal issues you’d want to talk with your doc first before increasing your water intake.)
But wait, what about the spirit…
I am an ocean of salty brine.
Each sip connects my grateful cells
To my sister plants
To bubbling spring
To misty mountain
To raging ocean.
I am an ocean
Each breath connects my fluid self.
I breathe out. I drink in.
I connect. I replenish.
Your relationship with water? How much to you drink? Do you find it easy or a struggle?