We hear it all the time — drink more water.  We all have heard for years that water is good for the body.  However, do we really know how essential it is for our true well-being?  We can go for weeks without food, but water is something that we all need on a daily basis.  No matter what your age or physical shape, you need to drink plenty of water.   We are mostly made up of water. 

Many people’s medical symptoms will get better or go away by drinking more water.  In Dr. F. Batmanghelidj’s book, “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water,” he writes about the relationship between water and the human body.  He believes that understanding dehydration will empower you to become much healthier and it will help you become your own healer.  From his book: “Every function inside the body is regulated by and depends on water.  Water must be available to carry vital elements, oxygen, hormones, and chemical messages to all parts of the body.  Without sufficient water to wet all parts equally, some more remote parts of the body will not receive the vital elements that water supplies.  Without sufficient water to constantly wet all parts, your body’s drought-management system kicks into action.”

How much water should we drink?  We know that we can’t hydrate (as many of us do) with soda, coffee, and tea because they have dehydrating effects.  Different people need different amounts of water depending on what works for the individual.  It’s usually somewhere between 8-15 glasses of water per day, or around half your body weight, in ounces.  This amount also depends on physical activity and climate.

Too much water can disrupt your sleep.  We all know the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.  It is better to drink the most water in the morning (when you are the most dehydrated), then drink a good amount of water during the day, less in the afternoon and then no water at night past 7 p.m.  Many of us drink too much at night before bed, and that can disrupt your natural dream cycle.

Finding the right amount of water for your own body is something you may want to experiment with.  Write down the amounts you drink, and how you feel that day.  Also write down the times you drink water, noticing if you can see any effects on your sleep patterns.   See if you can find an optimum amount and go with that.  If you drink sodas, coffee or tea, try and eliminate at least one of these per day, and make your goal to only drink them as a special treat.  Don’t use these drinks to quench your thirst, use water.

If you suffer from heartburn, try drinking water half an hour before eating food.  It will help prime the mucus membrane of the stomach and help prepare the digestive system for the food that it is about to start breaking down.  Heartburn can be a sign of dehydration.  I suffer from heartburn and I believe this works!

Too little water can cause fatigue, hunger, headaches, and  sugar cravings.  The next time you crave food that you know is not good for you, try this: drink water.   Drink one or two glasses, wait about 15 minutes and see if you feel better.  Hopefully the craving goes away.

What type of water should we drink?  Drink the best quality water that you can get.  Tap water is fine in most cities, but if you are not sure about the quality of your tap water, you can install a filter to your faucet.  Water temperature can also make a difference.  Ice water is commonly served in American restaurants, where as many other cultures serve room temperature water.  Some people prefer room temperature water, or hot water.  Mix it up!  My personal favorite is hot water with lemon and fresh ginger.

Water therapies can help with vitality and recovery.  My favorite:  steam room for about 15 minutes, then alternate cold and hot water in a shower afterwards for two to three cycles.  This will wake up your skin and make it feel so soft!  It is a great way to actually make you feel better.  The hot water will bring the blood to the surface, then cold water moves the blood away from the surface into your belly.  If you alternate, it will flush your skin and leave it feeling softer than it would after a facial!  If you don’t have access to a steam room, alternating a hot and cold shower will work too.