Tuesday's Q&A in Lafayette LA - 6/24/14

Whether I eat too much at lunch and suffer a classic food coma, or have a horrible night's sleep and feel groggy the next day, I've learned the hard way that I need to manage both my diet and sleep to avoid the extremes. But there's one other crucial component of health in Lafayette LA that just doesn't get as much attention: WATER.

Water It Down - Your Personal "Need-to-Know"

Water is the second most popular beverage in the U.S. after soft drinks. This is scary stuff! Especially since sugary soda is the first most popular beverage AND an enormous health hazard! Soda ups your risk of obesity, stroke, and other heart problems. However, these dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water, which doesn't have negative side effects. So help put the sugary stuff to the side and it make water the number one drink of choice. Plus, the benefits really are endless. (Just take a look!)

• Fluid balance. Roughly 80-90% of the body is made of water. Drinking enough H2O maintains the body's fluid balance, which helps transport nutrients in the body, regulate body temperature, digest food, and more.
• Calorie control. Forget other diet tricks - drinking water could also help with weight loss. Numerous studies have found a connection between water consumption and losing a few pound. The secret reason? Water simply helps people feel full, and as a result consume fewer calories.
• Muscle fuel. Sweating at the gym causes muscles to lose water. And when the muscles don't have enough water, they get tired. So for extra energy, try drinking water to push through that final couple of minutes on your treadmill, stationary bike, etc.
• Clearer skin. Certain toxins in the body can cause the skin to inflame, which results in clogged pores and acne. Water does flush out these toxins and can reduce the risk of pimples.
• Kidney function. Our kidneys process 200 quarts of blood daily, sifting out waste and transporting urine to the bladder. Yet, kidneys need enough fluids to clear away what we don't need in the body. Let's drink to that!
• Productivity boost. In order to really focus, a glass of water could help people concentrate and stay refreshed and alert.
• Fatigue buster. Move over coffee - water can help fight those tired eyes too. One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is tiredness! Yet, just another reason to go to the store to buy your refillable bottle today so you can begin drinking water all day long!
• Hangover help. If booze has got the best of you, help a hangover with a glass of water to hydrate the body and stop that pounding headache.
• Pain prevention. A little water can really go a long way. Aching joints and muscle cramps and strains can all occur if the body is dehydrated.
• Keep things flowing. Nobody wants to deal with digestion issues. Luckily, drinking enough water adds fluids to the colon which helps make things, ahem, move smoothly.
• Sickness fighter. Water may help with decongestion and dehydration, helping the body bounce back when feeling under the weather. Just beware - drinking fluids hasn't been scientifically proven to beat colds in one swoop, so don't swap this for a trip to the doctor or other cold remedies.
• Brain boost. A study in London found a link between students bringing water into an exam room and better grades, suggesting H2O promotes clearer thinking.

Now, I have a question for you! Have you ever felt groggy, hungry and typically just "off?" NEWSFLASH! We've all experienced this and more often than not, it's what it feels like when we don't drink enough water. But did you know that not drinking enough water can affect your skin, eyes, weight, hair and nails, too? Staying hydrated is so important. Whether you drink warm water and lemon each morning or find other ways to drink more water, the facts in the picture at the right (courtesy of www.soma.com) will likely motivate you to boost your hydration.

Bottoms Up - YOUR ACTION PLAN:
The ultimate goal is to drink ½ your body weight in ounces of water/day!

Here's how to keep yourself hydrated: Begin by drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up, and 30 minutes before eating any big meal. (This will help control appetite, too.) Get in the habit of keeping a water bottle on hand at all times (stainless steel refillable water bottles travel well!). And if the taste beings to bore, spice up the taste buds with a squeeze of lemon or orange! Before you know it, all the benefits of water will be right at your fingertips…. and in your body.

By Francesca Marino D.C.