DRINK MORE WATER.........Most of Us Do NOT Get enough

OK, so now you are walking more, doing some push ups, some abdominal exercises, some stretching, and you have given up the Coca Cola, disassociated yourself from the Pepsi generation and stopped drinking soft drinks in general. You are eating more veggies and you are even starting to look forward to eating a plate of steamed broccoli, summer squash, green beans and kale, with some extra virgin olive oil and Bragg's Apple cider vinegar added for taste. You have exchanged your sugar coated chocolate nuggets type cereal with 27 additives you can't even pronounce, and a shelf life of (2) centuries for a bowl of oatmeal with some organic ground flax seeds and stevia added for taste. You have also developed a taste for raw peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios and no more than 2 or three Brazil nuts per day. You even bought a couple of 20 pound dumb bells and you are doing a set or two of squats and lunges every other day. You are even dabbling in drinking some real KEFIR drinks every day. To top it all off, you purchased a NINJA blender on steroids or a Vita Mixer and you just love green smoothies. Enough is enough, what else should I be doing you ask?

(ans.) DRINK MORE WATER

WHY?  ....................good question, so let's take a look:

• Flush toxins
• Healthier skin
• Have more energy and alertness
• Be regular
• Lessen your risk of heart attack
• Regulate your body temperature
• Cushion and lube your joints and muscles
• Reduce your risk of disease and infections
• Drinking water temporarily increases your metabolism
• Possibly lower your blood pressure

IS IT POSSIBLE to drink too much water? YES IT IS, so don't go crazy.

I drink a full glass of cold water first thing every morning. You also need to study the signs of dehydration.

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/healthy_living/JohnsHopkinsHealthyLivingDigestiveDisorders_647-1.html

Excerpt from above link:

Researchers at Tufts University have devised a food pyramid for older people which recommends at least eight 6-oz. servings (48 oz.) of any liquid per day. Hydration can therefore come from a variety of sources, including fruit or vegetable juice, nonfat milk and low-sodium soup. Even coffee, tea, beer, wine or mixed-alcohol drinks are acceptable in moderation, since all contain large amounts of water. Drinking straight hard liquor, on the other hand, can cause dehydration and is not recommended. Many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, berries, grapes, peaches, tomatoes and lettuce, are almost 100 percent water. Even meat is chock full of water. Water from foods typically accounts for 20 percent of your recommended total fluid intake.

Most people get enough water from the foods and drinks they enjoy without having to worry about dehydration, but certain situations call for more care. Instances where you should increase your fluid intake beyond the recommended eight servings to avoid dehydration include:

• While you exercise. For an hour of light to moderate exercise, 2–3 cups of fluid are recommended to stave off dehydration.
• If it is unusually hot. You will naturally lose more fluid and will require extra replenishing.
• If you’re constipated. Increasing fluid intake adds moisture to the large intestine, which helps your body eliminate waste. Also, laxatives can cause dehydration.
• If you’re prone to urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Fluids may prevent urinary tract infections and stop kidney stone formation.
• If you’re sick. High fever, vomiting, and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, a condition that can be life threatening.

Warning signs of dehydration: If you notice that you’re urinating less than usual or if you don’t feel thirsty very often, check the color of your urine. It should be the color of straw if you are properly hydrated. If it’s much darker, it’s a sign that you need more fluids. Other warning signs of dehydration include dry mouth, decreased salivation, dizziness, sunken eyes, rapid pulse and a loss of skin elasticity.

(MY NOTE) Dry mouth can also be a side effect of many prescription drugs and it is not caused by not getting enough water. You either need to get off that drug or drugs IF possible OR perhaps use a product specifically to correct dry mouth syndrome.

Here are some to consider and can be found on line or at your local drug store:

• Chewing gum with XYLITOL in it
• Biotene oral balance gel
• Biotene mouthwash rinse
• XYLImelt discs

Psalm 107:20" He sent His word and healed them from their destruction's"