The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.
                                                                                                                –Thomas Moore

This Week:  Beer Better Than Water?

I was tickled to read in this week’s headlines a recent study in Spain. They claim to find that runners who drank beer after a workout hydrated themselves better than those who drank plain water.  Now while this sounds really good for some of us, I wouldn’t rush out and stock the fridge with a case of Bud Light just yet. The reality is that alcohol in most cases acts as a diuretic, causing our cells to lose water by making us urinate more. I’m not saying that beer is necessarily bad for you, but we do much better to drink water --especially after exercise.

Nowhere do I find it more difficult to keep hydrated than right where I live, here in the Sonoran desert. Yet even in this place, I’m shocked to see how few people pay attention to this most basic bodily need. Our bodies are made up of almost eighty percent water and the majority of that fluid needs to be inside our cells. When cells shrink from dehydration, we age faster, feel rundown, get sick easier, experience poor memory and focus, and tend to have more pain and inflammation -- not fun. Do you want more beautiful hair, skin, and nails? You guessed it – drink more water! Want a great way to reduce your appetite? Same answer! Keep yourself hydrated at all times and see how so much of what ails you simply disappears.

Water is the best beverage for most of us. Unless you exercise under extreme circumstances (e.g. in intense heat, at altitude, or running a marathon), water should be enough to rehydrate you. Many popular sports drinks provide that extra edge, however, with sugar, sodium, and potassium. Sometimes that is helpful to replenish what we lose in our sweat. If you do use sports drinks, choose those free of artificial sweeteners, colorings, and flavorings.

Regardless of whether you’re exercising, working, or just relaxing around the house, you need to keep hydrated just the same. For starters, keep a bottle with you all day long. Plan ahead so that you don’t have to wait for your thirst to queue you to grab some water. Remember also that for every serving of soda pop, coffee, or other flavored beverage, you need to drink at least as much or more water to hydrate yourself properly. Most fresh fruits and vegetables have high water contents and can help keep us hydrated. On the other hand, processed, sweet, and salty foods like chips, candy, cookies, and fried foods contain little to no water and can easily drain vital fluids from our bodies within minutes.

How much water is enough? Well, if I may get just a bit graphic for a moment, you know you’re hydrated when your urine is the color of amber or straw – not too dark, yet not too clear either. Never wait until you are thirsty to drink. You are likely already dehydrated by the time your thirst signal kicks in. This is especially true for the elderly.

One of the most simple, least expensive, and readily available changes you could make to improve your health right now is to just drink more water. Try doubling or even tripling your water intake over the next three days. You will wonder why you haven’t always lived like that.

Healthiest regards,