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Our Body Is Made Up Of Water!
About 60% of your adult body is made of water and getting the recommended daily amounts allows our body to maintain the body’s fluid balance. Drinking water is essential. Moreover, there there are additional benefits of alkaline water. Drinking about half of your body weight in ounces of pure water will do wonders for your health. When our body is dehydrated we cannot function properly. It is like the major highway system of our body went from four lanes to two. Our transportation comes to a screeching halt.
The facts:
- Blood is 82% water
- Muscles are 75% water
- Lungs are 90% water
- Bones are 25% water
- Brain is 76% water
The amount of water you need also depends on-
- Where you live
- Diet
- Temperature or season
- Daily activity
- Overall health
Benefits of Water
Water is necessary for optimal health. When you do not drink enough water, the organs in your body fail to function properly. In order to digest your foods and get the nutrients your body needs, you must supply your digestive tract with plenty of water. The best water to drink for your digestive system is alkaline water. So, what is alkaline water? Alkaline water is created when water courses over rocks and absorbs minerals. These minerals alkalize the water and decrease the pH level in the digestive tract.
The digestive system, which includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and colon, is pH sensitive. The type of water that you drink can impact your digestive system. Tap water, which has a pH level of 6 to 7.5, is acidic and can reduce the body’s ability to digest food. Conversely, alkaline water is much less acidic and has a pH level of 8 to 10.
Drinking our daily recommended amount of water per day is the easiest way to support our health. Maintaining proper fluid helps with digestion, absorption, circulation, production of saliva, transportation of nutrients and maintaining body temperature. Below are some of the top reasons to make sure you get in your daily recommended water intake.
- Calorie Control – When your bodily fluids are low, your brain triggers a thirst sensation. Often times this is misunderstood for hunger. Drinking water can control your calorie consumption, by fulfilling that “hunger” sensation. When you feel that urge to snack in between meals, first try sipping on water. Water also replaces high calorie drinks like soda, juice, and sugar rich coffee pick-me-ups. This in turn helps with weight loss.
- Muscle Fuel – Hydration maintains our electrolytes also known as minerals with an electric charge. These are important for muscle contraction. When our electrolytes are low our muscles become fatigued and you feel tired.
- Clearer Skin – Dehydration makes your skin appear to have more wrinkles and look dry. Your skin is your first barrier for both things coming in and going out. This means that as our body is detoxifying, sometimes it will exit through the skin. This appears as blemishes and acne. By maintaining proper hydration, the skin can expel toxins easily.
- Digestion – Poor hydration leads to constipation. This happens because the colon will pull water from the stools in order to maintain fluid balance throughout the body. When this happens we become constipated and our stools become dry and hard.
- Kidney Function – Lack of water causes the kidneys to work harder in order to filter out blood.
- Focus and attention – Dehydration causes a decrease in blood flow and this leads to brain shrinkage therefore its difficult to think or focus. Because of the impact on circulation and brain health, staying hydrated has been shown to decrease severity and number of headaches and migraines.
- Pain Prevention – Our joints and muscles need to be able to move freely. When we get stiff or sore, a lot of times it is due to a decrease in fluidity.
Benefits of Alkaline Water for Digestion
Water passes from the mouth through the digestive system without triggering digestion because it contains no calories. Water is the perfect way to deliver antioxidants and hydrogen to reduce the acidity in the body. Because water travels quickly through the body and enters the bloodstream, it can increase the pH level in the digestive tract. The digestive system functions best when it is alkaline. Drinking alkaline water throughout the day can help to improve the pH level of the digestive tract.
Alkaline Water Improves Digestion
To understand the benefits of alkaline water and alkalinity of the digestive system, you must understand a little bit about enzymes. Enzymes help the body digest food into usable molecules, which are used to nourish the body and energize it. When your body is too acidic, the body struggles to produce enough enzymes to properly digest your foods, which can lead to a plethora of digestive woes.
Alkaline Water Reduces Acid Reflux
The stomach remains pH neutral until you eat. Then, HCL increases, and digestive enzymes are released into the digestive tract to help digest food. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acids rise up into the esophagus. Studies have shown that drinking alkaline water can provide acid-buffering capabilities and offer therapeutic benefits for those suffering from acid reflux disease.
Improves Intestinal Health
American adults often have acidic intestinal tracts, which decrease the body’s ability to absorb the nutrients from the foods that you eat. Alkaline water promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. As the beneficial bacteria proliferate the GI tract, inflammation in the intestines begins to decrease and digestive symptoms like flatulence, constipation, and diarrhea begin to ease.
Cleanse the Colon
The colon is filled with bacteria that help to breakdown foods, send nutrients to the bloodstream, and remove waste from the body. Alkaline water raises the pH level in the colon, hydrates the colon, and removes free radicals and toxins from the digestive tract. Finally, alkaline water contains magnesium, calcium, and other minerals that act as a mild laxative to help with digestion.
Boosts Metabolism
When the digestive system is functioning properly, it can better digest food, and increase metabolism. Metabolism is the rate that your body burns calories and excess fat. When digestion is sluggish, the body does not spend energy effectively. Proper hydration helps increase one’s resting metabolic rate. Metabolism helps increase the available energy needed for bodily functions, including digestion.
Improve Hydration Levels
Alkaline water has smaller molecules than tap water, making it easier for the body to absorb water and improve hydration throughout the body. Furthermore, alkaline water contains the electrolytes your body needs for recovery and proper hydration without the sugar content and sodium content found in sports drinks.
Sources of Alkaline Water
There are numerous alkaline water products on the market. These brands can choose to collect water from a spring that produces alkaline water, or they can use a process known as ionizing water. In addition to this, there are several things you can do to ensure you receive the full benefits of alkaline water. First, opt for a multi-stage water filtration system for your tap water. Choose a system that not only removes contaminants from the water but also features small mineral pouches to increase the beneficial minerals in your water.
There are also pH drops on the market that contain large amounts of minerals to add to your water. These pH drops are available at grocery stores, pharmacies, and big box retailers. Another great option is to use baking soda or fresh lemons in your water to help increase the alkalinity of your water. Finally, a water ionizer can help transform ordinary tap water into alkaline water; however, this device is quite expensive for individuals.
Track your Daily Water Consumption
Sometimes remembering to drink is the hardest part. It may help to get a bottle of your own. Glass is the best choice because some of the chemicals in a plastic bottle can leach out especially if left in direct sunlight. Once you have your bottle, calculate how many times you have to fill it in order to get half of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 180 lbs. you would need to drink about 90 ounces of water per day. There are also apps to track water consumption. Do whatever it takes to get your daily recommended water intake.
Your water bottle should become your safety blanket, take it everywhere. You will start noticing clearer skin, an energy boost, and less headaches or migraines.
Need Help With Your Digestive Issues?
Alkaline water can help relieve a host of digestive issues, improve digestion, and reduce the acidity in the body. If you are experiencing digestive issues, speak with one of our functional medicine practitioners. We will work with you to determine what is causing your digestive woes and offer effective, easy to incorporate strategies to improve your digestive health.
