Hydration

Torey

@Marjory Wildcraft's latest e-mail has a link to TGN's Hydration Handbook. If you haven't already downloaded this fantastic e-book, get on it. And then READ it !!!!!

Hydration is one of the most important things we can do for our health. This e-book talks about the health issues that can and do occur when we are not properly hydrated. Don't wait until you feel thirsty. By the time you feel thirst, you are already 2-3% (or more) dehydrated. Your brain function is affected at 1% dehydration. Dehydration is a major cause of muscle cramping. 70-80% of joint cartilage is water so dehydration will affect joint pain. Dehydration will affect our digestion (constipation) and may cause nausea.

I took a course on migraines recently and the instructor said that one of the first things to do when you feel a migraine (or any headache) coming on is to drink a glass of water. Dehydration can easily trigger a migraine.

Despite the fact that I know how important hydration is (I'm constantly reminding my FD team about this), I have to remind myself to hydrate. Hubby has been asked to remind me as well. Silly, cause I'm always reminding him to drink more.

Don't like water? Lots of other options for healthy hydration. There are several discussions on electrolyte replacements, nourishing herbal infusions, fruit shrubs, ginger bugs and other healthy beverages to choose from.

https://tgn-pdf-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/Hydration+Handbook.pdf

Monek Marie

I have to remind myself all the time to drink more water. Its not that I don't like it, I just forget. I get a painful reminder when I start getting leg cramps.

Thank for the download link

vickeym

I too have to mind myself. However, to drink the amounts they suggest would get me fired. lol I would never get anything done other than drinking and running to the bathroom.

water2world

@torey Thanks for the reminder! I don't know how I can forget to drink enough! But that happens sometimes. What works best for me to make a quart of tea overnight and have that on the counter to drink. It being there reminds me to supplement my hydration, and finish it before I go to bed!

Michelle D

When my oldest kids were young I didn't know as much about hydration and how easy it is to get dehydrated. My oldest daughter gets horrible migraines and is regularly dehydrated. We all try harder now to stay on top of it. I keep reusable water bottles full in the refrigerator for each of my little ones so that they always have a cold drink ready. I'm glad that they will be learning young and hopefully have better habits than the rest of us.

I read an article that stated studies were done that showed whole cows milk hydrates better than water when a person is experiencing severe dehydration. That was surprising to me but it makes sense. Milk can replace electrolytes that water can't.

LaurieLovesLearning

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/916984#Comment_916984

That's the best way...just like when you are nursing a baby. Make it easily accessible wherever you will be.

I personally don't like water. We lived in too many places with bad tasting water. There was no way to cover it...so I drank lots of milk. I still do, even though we have really good spring water now that seems to have no flavor. It is naturally shale, gravel & sand filtered.

@Michelle D I didn't know that! Just the same, it is a really good fact to know and remember.

If water tastes even a little off, I will not drink it unless something is added.

Merin Porter

@Michelle D That's really interesting about whole cow's milk hydrating better than water in cases of severe dehydration! I'd never heard that before, but it's a great tip -- thanks for sharing!

vickeym

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/916990#Comment_916990

What a great tip. I love fresh cow's milk. I drink almost a gallon a week by myself. Wish it were more but can't afford more even though we get a pretty good price.

Marjory Wildcraft

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/848779/hydration

Thanks @torey my kids will tell you at the first sign of a headache, "drink some water". It is drilled into them... LOL.

Hey I'm vising my daughter Kimber - OMG, she is now 21 years old! and I am camping out in her apartment in Austin... They sure do grow up, huh? Anyway I am so delighted to see herbal teas, tincture bottles, and all sorts of natural remedy type stuff as a part of her life. For a moment there she was going allopathic on me. LOL.

SuperC

Hydration, one can get hydrated from eating green veggies, fruits, and some veggies as all listed contain water. Why is drinking water so important? @torey Some people drink so much water that they become dehydrated, why is that do you suppose?

Torey

@SuperC I agree that there are other sources of fluids besides plain water. Some fruits and veg are quite high in water content. But its not enough. We still have to intake other fluids to keep our bodies properly hydrated. We may not feel thirsty but as I said, by the time we feel thirst, we are already approaching dehydration. Some people are chronically dehydrated but don't recognize it.

And there are some fluids that are naturally dehydrating. Coffee, tea, colas, energy drinks, alcohol, etc. So even if you drink a lot of coffee or tea, you can still become dehyrated.

I've never heard of anyone becoming dehydrated because of drinking too much water. There is a condition called hyponatremia that comes from your body's natural mineral balance (primarily sodium) becoming too dilute from drinking too much water. Another condition called hypokalemia (which is a lack of potassium) may be caused by too much water. That's why its important to have electrolytes in part of your fluid intake for the day.

Cornelius

You can drink too much water so electrolytes are important. I personally like the taste of water (or lack there of), but some people I know don't. They set timers on there phone to remind them to drink and carry around reusable water bottles. I like to set a water bottle near me as I will drink more that way.