Water – filtered and one litre

Hi H2O Drinkers,

Here I am again, reminding you to drink your water – yes 7-12 cups a day.  I previously posted two perspectives on H2O:

• Water in Ontario – We just don’t know how lucky we are
• Water Consumption: How much to drink and some interesting stats.

I reread them today and thought you enjoy reading them too.

As the season changes, many people may have set goals to detox, to drop a few pounds, to increase exercise or to be healthier and there is a direct relationship to the amount of water you drink.

• Detox – you need lots of water to move the toxins out of your body.  It helps to flush your liver, add fluid to your blood stream and helps to move your bowels so you release the remaining toxins.  Add some lemon to your morning H2O to help with the liver detox.
• Drop a few pounds – likely over the holidays you had more salt and sugar than you usually have.  Increasing your water helps to release the water you are holding on to.  And it helps with hunger as you are likely thirsty.  Many people drink more than they usually do (booze, coffee, pop, juice) and forget to add nature’s free source of liquid as part of the mix.  It is time to get back in the habit of drinking your water.
• Increase exercise – when you sweat you release toxins.  Again, replenish the liquids you lost in your workout with more water.  Adding a sauna to the end of your stay at the gym?  Bring a water bottle in with you and increase your intake to two more cups to replace the liquid lost in the sauna.
• Move your bowels – let’s face it, changing your eating habits over the holidays leaves many people constipated or with diarrhea.  Not enough water leads to constipation so increase your consumption to get things moving  Why have your intestines filled with toxins when H2O can help flush it out.
• Be healthier – water is so important to your health.  Drinking your 7-12 cups, not only helps move bowels, it avoids dry skin.  There is also a link to a lack of water with chronic health problems like adult-onset diabetes, arthritis  asthma, back-pain, cataracts, chronic fatigue syndrome, colitis, depression, heartburn, high blood pressure, high cholesterol  kidney stones, lupus, migraines, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy (Source 1).

So get out the water filter and start enjoying your 7-12 cups.  To make sure you are drinking 7-12 cups, get a container that holds several cups and mentally record each time you are done.

Finally my last tip

Hold off on the water with meals – particularly with ice.  Let your digestive fluids do their work undiluted.  But if you really need to have water, just do small sips at room temperature.  Think of the ice-cold water like fat going down the drain – you would never add ice-cold liquid to assist it – you always use warm or hot H2O to make sure the drain does not plug.  It is best that you drink your water an hour before each meal.

May your day be filled with lots of water and your bathroom be close by.

To water – a precious resource that we can’t live without.

Jo-Ann Blondin,

Your Culinary Nutritionist, Wellness Cheerleader and 9CupChallenge partner.

1. Source: Haas, Elson M, MD, Staying Healthy with Nutrition, Chapter 1, Water, page 14

Water – is best to drink at room temperature, an hour before meals and filtered. Refreshing water – in all seasons.