Salute the Sun & Stay Hydrated

shutterstock_65991220-sunAs we get closer to the Summer Solstice, the day where the sun shines the longest in the Northern Hemisphere, we start to feel the sun’s warmth & heat.  We begin to feel the power, energy and radiance of the sun and begin to feel more alive ourselves.  With the intense heat, comes dryness. Think about your outdoor plants without any water or nourishment and you’ll soon see the importance of proper nourishment and hydration.

This is the time of year where it is essential to keep yourself cool, hydrated and nourished.  We all know how important water is to our health. Besides being the 2nd most crucial ingredient to our survival after oxygen, here are a few reminders why water is the hub of life and so vitally necessary:

    • for digestion & absorption of food
    • to transport nutrients to cells
    • to regulate body temp & blood circulation
    • to carry oxygen to our cells
    • to remove toxins & waste
    • to metabolize fat
    • to protect & moisturize joints & cartilage
    • to maintain electrolyte balance
    • to suppresses appetite, helps feeling full

shutterstock_82889161-yoga-hydrate

To stay properly hydrated you need to drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Example: 150 lb adult requires 75 oz of water (9-10 eight ounce glasses) per day. Add any kind of physical activity to the mix and you’ll need to drink more than the recommended amount to stay hydrated. Drink PURE water. Coffee, tea, soft drinks or fruit juices don’t count as water. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Your body requires straight up H20 to perform its functions.  Practically every job the body performs requires this liquid gold.

If you become dehydrated, you may notice dizziness, headaches, cramping, fatigue, stress and/or depression. Dehydration is your body telling you that it is deficient in electrolytes. It is simple to make your own electrolyte enhanced water by adding a pinch of sea salt to filtered water rather than using high sugar sport drinks to replace electrolytes.  Coconut water is  a convenient alternative to replenishing electrolytes and increasing hydration. Its recent growth in popularity is likely due to its many health benefits; it is loaded with potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium & calcium – the five key electrolytes and it is readily absorbed by the body, contains no added sugar and is fat & cholesterol free.

Be cool, stay hydrated.

Sharlene Brewer, CNP
Holistic Nutritionist

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