Water: The Necessary Ingredient
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The body is 75% water, so it makes sense that this essential fluid must be continually replenished. We can go for a month without food, but we can live only two or three days without water. But how much? Eight ounces? Six ounces? It is confusing! People typically just don’t drink enough water, but it’s important to realize needs will differ from person to person.
Dehydration is one of the primary causes of cravings. The body doesn’t send the message that you are thirsty until you are on the verge of dehydration. When you feel hungry, and before you grab an unhealthy treat, drink a full glass of water. Then touch in with yourself to see if you are still hungry. If you’re excessively thirsty, ask yourself if you’ve been eating a lot of salty foods or dry, baked flour products. Many physical problems, including headaches, urology problems and kidney stones, are also a result of chronic dehydration.
Keep a bottle or cup of pure spring water with you and sip it throughout the day. As you drink, notice how your body responds. When you start to consume more water you will begin to crowd out beverages like coffee and soda and it may also improve your health in other ways.
About the author
Joshua Rosenthal is the Founder and Director of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. He has worked in the nutrition field for more than 25 years, teaching at the school alongside health leaders including Andrew Weil, Deepak Chopra and Barry Sears. At Integrative Nutrition students are trained as Health Coaches, receiving the holistic nutrition education necessary for them go out into the world and help others improve their health and happiness.
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