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| WATER By Gayla Gongwer Water water everywhere -have you had enough to drink? In Arizona we find ourselves surrounded by moisture in August; but while our outside plants get the water they need, have you made sure your body has gotten the healing moisture it needs inside? After all, your physical body is 2/3 water, which needs to be replaced by about 2 ½ quarts of daily. Water is an essential part of every body function – from joint lubrication to toxic cleansing. Our bodies can exist for months without food, but only days without water. When figuring your fluid intake, don’t count all the coffee, soda, alcohol, tea, and sugary juices you drink. Those liquids may contain caffeine, additives, and other chemicals, which actually rob your body of precious water rather than add to it. Most people, especially those not accustomed to our “dry” heat, function in a near dehydrated state. Symptoms can be so vague that you wouldn’t associate them with water intake. If you feel chronically fatigued, lethargic, overly tense, or prone to headaches, try reaching for a water bottle instead of the medicine bottle. In addition, don’t count on thirst as a guide to when you need to replenish bodily fluids. By the time you feel thirsty, it’s too late – thirst is your body SCREAMING for the attention you haven’t given it. When outside in hot weather, drink at least ½ of cup water every 15 minutes to maintain your healthy moisture balance. |