Water is the carrier of life in the body. Water makes up 60% – 75% of the human body. They play an important role in many life processes that losing only 4% of your total body water can cause dehydration. Losing 15% of your body’s Water can be fatal. You can survive weeks without food but only days without water.
Water as a transportation Vehicle:
Fatigue is a symptom of dehydration.
Water is a universal solvent. This is because each molecule of Water has a negative portion and a positive portion allowing the molecule to bind to both negative and positive charged substances.
From the Saliva in your mouth to the digestive juices in your gut, water is essential for breaking down and absorbing the food you eat. Water is a universal solvent. It is a great vehicle to carry nutrients and minerals to every cell in the body. You might be eating a healthy diet, but if you are not drinking enough water, your cells might be undernourished, resulting in fatigue.
Water is involved in transporting oxygen from the lungs to the cells. If you are dehydrated, you might feel lightheaded and lethargic.
Water is involved in transporting waste products from the cells to the elimination organs. The lymph fluid carries dead cells, bacteria, viruses, and by-products of the metabolic process from the cells to the liver and kidneys for elimination. When the flow of lymph is stagnant, toxins can leak back into the cells.
Hydration and the Immune System:
Recurring disease and poor immune system might be caused dehdration.
The immune system is made out of four layers:
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The physical barrier
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The physiological barrier
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The Innate Immune System
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The adaptive immune system.
Water is essential for the balance of all parts of the immune system.
The physical barrier is made out of the skin that secretes sebum, an oily substance that traps pathogens and sheds them, and of the mucous membrane that is secreted in all cavities of the body from the nose, mouth, and eyes to the throat, digestive tract uterus, lungs, and kidneys. Mucus acts as a lubricant and physically traps pathogens and eliminates them when you sneeze.
When you are dehydrated, your body mucus will dry. A dry mucus membrane will allow more pathogens to enter your body. It will increase the traction of food and air with your tissue causing irritation and inflammation.
The physiological barrier is made of the different PH and temperature in the various organs of your body. Water has a PH of 7, which is neutral. Water’s capacity to store heat and its ability to flow from one area of the body to another keeps the body’s overall temperature balanced.
Both the innate immune cells and the adaptive immune cells are transported in the blood and lymph. Allowing a smooth flow of blood and lymph is dependent on hydration.
Hydration and Craving:
Cravings are sometimes a sign that your body is dehydrated.
Many people mix the thirst sensation with the hunger sensation. After all, the thirst and hunger centers of the brain reside close by in the hypothalamus. If you feel fatigued and crave food to boost your energy level, try drinking a cup or two of water and see how you feel. Fatigue is one sign that your body needs more water.
Water & your Brain:
Brain fog, poor memory & problems concentrating are among the symptoms for dehydration.
Water supports the shape and structure of your cells. When your cells do not get enough water, they start to shrivel and cannot function optimally. This is true for every cell in your body but especially the brain.
Studies show that losing just 1-2 percent of your body’s total water mass can cause your brain to shrink, which significantly impairs cognitive function. As a result, your brain has to work harder to perform the same tasks.
Having a hard time concentrating or foggy thinking, drinking some water might clear your head.
Your body is losing water through breathing, sweating, urination, and poop. Therefore, it is essential that you hydrate enough to replenish the water in your body.
So many people begin their day by reaching out for a cup of coffee, but coffee is a diuretic which means that it dries up your body. So I suggest you start your day with a cup of water first thing in the morning.
In the summer, I like to fill my water bottle with room temperature water and add a couple of slices of fresh lemon to them. Then, I sip the lemon water first thing in the morning and throughout the day. When the Water empties, I refill the bottle with water.
In the winter, I love to add a sprig of rosemary to a warm cup of lemon tea and drink it first thing in the morning.
Establishing drinking habits, either water or unsweetened herbal infusion, throughout the day is key to keeping your cells healthy and young. Make it a habit to carry with you a bottle of water (not plastic) and sip from it all day long.
Herbal teas if unsweetened are a great way to hydrate. To learn more about Bee Fields Farm herbal tea blends visit our Herbal Shoppe.
