Water

Water

Liquid gold

Why care?

Water covers 70.9% of the Earth's surface.

58-71%  of human body is water.

Why appreciate it? 

 “1.1 billion People in the world do not have access to safe drinking water, roughly one-sixth of the world's population”.

“2.2 million People in developing countries, most of them children, die every year from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.”

 “Half of the world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water related illnesses.”

“• More than 40 million hours are wasted each year in Africa alone from women and children gathering water.” (as cited on www.blueplanetwork.com)

We’re lucky to have water to use and drink!

Symbolic meaning of water

The symbolic meaning of water is mainly related to purification. Ritual washing is performed in “Christianity,, Islam, Hinduism, Rastafari movement, Shinto, Taoism, Judaism, and Wicca” (as listed on Wikipedia)

Reasons to have more water and less…any other liquid

Be beautiful and stay healthy

1.      Hydration is a basic surviving need. Dehydration may lead to lack of energy and fatigue, lessened brain function (worse short-term and long term memory).

2.      No other liquid can replace water (drinking soda or juice is not a substitute for water). Drink more water especially if you drink a lot of coffee and if you smoke cigarettes. Both dehydrate your body. 

3.      As 80% of our blood is water, drinking enough of it helps renovate blood cells.

4.      Water hydrates skin from the inside out. No face cream can hydrate your skin like water can. Keep your skin beautiful by drinking more water. 

5.      Water helps you clean your body from toxins through the lymphatic system and kidneys.

6.      Water regulates metabolism, consequently it also helps regulate weight.

7.      Water helps renovate blood cells

8.      Every cell and every organ in the human body needs enough water to function properly.

9.      Drinking enough water helps diminish pain in your body (if you have any). “It does so by getting your lymphatic system in motion. The lymphatic system is a network of nodes, tubes, vessels, and fluid that move waste out of your tissues. It needs water to function correctly”.

10.  It carries food and oxygen to your cells.

11.  Water dissolves nutrients and by doing so it makes them available to your cells.

12.  Water regulates body temperature.

13.  It helps you prevent infections and diseases. 

14.  It helps you lose weight.

15.  Water helps energize your muscles.

16.  “Our brains depend on proper hydration to function optimally. Brain cells require a delicate balance between water and various elements to operate, and when you lose too much water, that balance is disrupted. Your brain cells lose efficiency.” (as written in Psychology Today)

17.  Water loves you-love water back!

How to?

Here are some tips how to drink more water:

1.      Keep the water where you can see it. If you work on a desk, keep a bottle on it. 

2.      Have a bottle of water in your car.

3.      Make drinking water convenient.

4.      Make water your drink of choice- try to replace it as much as you can for any other soda or juice.

5.      Try to make it a habit to drink a glass of water in the morning- before your tea, coffee, or a snack. 

6.      Drink unsweetened herbal tea. It increases you water intake and it’s good for your health and digestion (especially if you have a cup of herbal tea before your meal).

7.      Flavor your water- if it helps you drink more- you can use lemon, lime and any other natural flavors.

8.      Place your water in a bottle or pot that you like to tempt you drink more.

And finally some water wisdom: 

" Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it." Lao Tzu

 Caution!

As every other intake, water is a matter of conscious sense of balance. Drinking enough water is not a competition, but a good habit that you could build, without overdoing it though. In short- do not drink too much water. “Drinking too much water is rare but can cause hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance, which can have serious negative health consequences (in rare cases even death)”. (as cited on WikiHow).

For more suggestions, tips and ideas, please do write a comment! Thanks for reading! Take care of yourself! Xoxo Geri