Signs of Water Dehydration

This post is an additional link to the original article I posted on the Allegheny Center Alliance Church livejournal blog: Water - The Source of Life  

We lose water by breathing (the steam that comes out of your mouth when you blow on a glass), sweating, and using the restroom.  If you exercise, live in a dry climate or high altitude, or get sick with diarrhea or vomiting, you lose even more water.  Certain medications, obesity, and age are also contributing factors of dehydration, as well as stress and what you are eating.

So how can you tell if you are dehydrated or even in the beginning stages with mild dehydration?  Here are some symptoms:

§  Being thirsty or having a dry mouth

§  Fatigue

§  Sinusitis or a dry nose

§  Headache

§  Cannot stay focused; lack of clarity

§  Dry skin

§  Dry lips

§  Lowered blood pressure

§  Feeling weak or dizzy

§  Performance problems

§  Cramps

§  Constipation

§  Urine that is not clear and colorless

The Amazing Benefits of Water

This post is an additional link to a previously posted article on the Allegheny Center Alliance Church livejournal blog: Water - The Source of Life

• We are susceptible to toxins from breathing them through the air, eating them in our foods, and using them on our skin.  Drinking water flushes these impurities and toxins away.  Just as baptism cleanses our souls, water cleanses our bodies.
• Aside from flushing away toxins, water also flushes away fat.  For healthy weight, water increases your metabolism and helps to regulate your appetite.  Did you know that you can feel hungry when really your body is telling you it needs water, not food?  Try drinking a glass of water before stopping at the vending machine!
• Water is a natural lubricant and naturally moisturizes your skin.  You’ll notice a healthier glow to your skin and even brighter eyes from the lubricating effects of having enough water in your body.  I say, skip the $400 bottle of fancy face cream and try increasing your water intake!
• Approximately 80% of your blood is made up of water.  Vital nutrients, oxygen, and minerals needed by your body are transported in the blood stream through water.  When your body is even mildly dehydrated, you’ll experience fatigue and a lack of energy.  Caffeine interferes with water’s ability to travel in your body, so give your body the nutrients and energy it needs by substituting a caffeinated drink with a glass of water.   
• If your body is not getting enough water, it will store the little bit it is getting.  That is, you can forget about wearing your skinny jeans because you’ll be too bloated to wear them.  Too much sugar and salt can also lead to bloating and water will help to flush that junk right out of your system!
• Water also makes you smarter (no kidding!).  Our brains are made up of approximately 75% water and when your brain has a good supply of water, you’ll think clearer.
• Water cushions your joints and tissues, aids the digestive process and helps eliminate constipation, and regulates body temperature.  Your stomach, liver, and kidneys need water to work properly so drink water before and after eating.

A Separate Blog

I'm so excited to have been given this opportunity to blog about health and nutrition at ACAC!  While I have been a lifelong writer, nutrition and health is just something I dappled in until about 7 years ago when I got certified in nutrition.  At the time, I was working from home for the most part, with a little bit of consulting at a day spa.  It was easy to take care of myself and live a healthy lifestyle, and I had little patience for clients that just couldn't seem to stick with the program.  Soon after, I got an actual job and returned to college and became one of my clients that I had little patience for.  All I knew about living a healthy lifestyle went out the window as I struggled to juggle work, school, and all the activities I committed to at the college.

I wasn't a Christian at that time, and shortly after giving my life to Christ (and finding ACAC), I walked out of the job I had with nothing else lined up because I was miserable and somehow knew God had greater plans for me.  Coincidentally... a close family member of mine was in need and stayed with me for a couple of months.  Not working allowed me to be there for my family, and within a week of my house guest leaving, I got hired at ACAC.  Over two years later, I am still grateful to be part of this organization.  I thank God daily for the blessing of working here with people I love, under leaders I love, doing God's work.

I began then to cross paths with people who needed nutrition advice and I loved being able to help them make better choices.  I volunteered to meet them at their houses or here in the cafe and consult them, or give them information through email, but I really didn't have time to follow up and continue to encourage and assist them.  I even played with the idea of facilitating a nutrition growth group, but again, I just did not have the time.  I was asked to present at a group here once and didn't even have the time to prepare for that (which was evident to anyone who attended, haha!).

So the opportunity to write this blog is exciting to me because I can help Christ's people make better lifestyle choices without really putting a crunch in my already hectic schedule.  I can work on it while waiting in the doctor's office or on breaks in class, and I'm amazed at how God took the desire in my heart to help people with their health, combined it with my LOVE of writing, and brought it all to fruition.  Our timing is never His timing and His timing is always perfect!

My purpose in starting this seperate blog from our ACAC Threads blog is that while working on my 'Water' article, I realized that there is just too much good stuff about water and if I put it all in one blog, I'd cloud up the blog and it would take you all day to read.  Additionally, I can only committ to every other week, but from time to time, I might want to share a link with you or a quick article I come across and I think that would be better on a specific health blog instead of again, clouding up the ACAC Threads page.

The first two articles I wrote for Healthy for Christ can be found here.