Drink To Your Heart’s Content

I’m talking about WATER!

Drinking clean water is key to feeling your best no matter the season.

Keeping your body hydrated especially during the summer is nurturing for your skin, your joints flexible and brain fluid.

You may think about drinking fluids more often in the summer because of hotter temperatures, sweating more and being physically active. It’s essential to replenish your bodily fluids regularly throughout the day.

Why your body needs water?

• Your body is 2/3 water
• Water helps transform nutrients throughout the body and flush waste products out of the liver and kidneys
• The body loses 1 quart of water each from the kidneys and skin, about 1 cup from the lungs and ½ cup from feces
• Total loss of water per day equals approximately 6-8 cups a day.
• You need to replenish with similar and more amounts daily.
• Vegetables and fruits are 90% water.
• Excellent for keeping your mind alert and moving bodily fluids
• Beneficial for maintianing electrolytes in the body and when exercising, keeping the body hydrated for muscle regeneration, joints lubricated, moistens tissues including mouth, eyes and nose.

Swap those sugary juices and mixes (they make you thirstier anyways) with good spring water and add fresh lemons, oranges or cucumber slices or essential oils.

Water Tip: On the run with your water bottle and you don’t have access to fresh lemons, fruits or vegetables, use certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils.

Add one or two drops of lemon, wild orange, grapefruit, peppermint or lavender (ingestible & safe) to your water (best with glass bottles). Essential oils add delicious flavour and luscious aromas to your water and at the same time, nourishes your body.

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers and other part of plants. Essential oils have been used for centuries in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. They have anti-bacterial, anti spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, sedative or stimulating properties.

THINKING ABOUT WATER FILTERS?

There are many types of water filters you can buy. City tap water (in Toronto) is better than most yet it still contains contaminants and bacteria. Best to check your city tap water through your local municipality water works and get an analysis of its contents. It should be made up of natural minerals and not contaminants such as chlorine, fluoride, aluminum (added to water post filtration) pesticide residue, bacteria and softening salt agents plus lead and copper from pipes.

Most filters take out many of the minerals that are contained in water that are good for us. We want those minerals. Ask questions about what the water filters actually filter before  you purchase an expensive water filter system .

Here’s a few examples:

Best to least….

• Natural spring water that is clear and clean above 3000 ft (streams from unpolluted mountain and high elevation regions). Con’s- great if you can get it, expensive to buy.
• Spring water from 3000 ft below the earth (unpolluted full of minerals and nutrients). Con’s – great if you can get it and expensive to buy.
• Reverse Osmosis (does not take out the fluoride completely) the most thorough filter, also re-alkalizes the water. Con’s – an expensive machine to buy, need space for it attaches to your faucet, questionable if it clears out all the minerals.
• Santevia Water systems with layered charcoal, rocks and pebbles. Sits on a stand or  kitchen counter. Cons – water slowly trickles out of container, lots of maintenance but more natural.
• New, smaller water containers (like Brittas)with filter are good but not as extensive as the larger system. Takes out chlorine, lead and many contaminants and  maintains minerals. It also alkalizes water. Change filter every two months.
• Distilled water – inexpensive to buy. Con’s – no  minerals or nutrients in water.
• Dual carbon Filter –Pros’ removes contaminates and leaves minerals in. Cons – change filters every few months.
• Compressed charcoal sticks from Japan. can buy at certain eco stores. Doug McNish Public Kitchen  has them.
• Britta – inexpensive change filters every month only removes odour and chlorine.

It can be overwhelming which type of filter to choose. Start small with a Santevia or Britta pitcher, buy a new filter pack every two to three months before investing in an expensive system. Replenishing your body with water with six to eight glasses of water or a 2 litre water bottle a day is more important than fixating on a walter filter.

My best in health,

Rani Glick is a Mindful Nutrition Specialist bringing awareness about body and brain health for those living with stress or chronic illness. The mindfulness based stress reduction eight-week program is also available for the workplace. To book a consultation or find out more about Rani