Pure Water

Last Saturday I was asked to speak to our church's Women's Fellowship on Pure Water and Food as part of a meeting giving tips on diet and exercise. The meetings goal was to encourage the ladies to take care of their bodies and to have balance, not be compulsive about diet or exercise.

I thought I'd share some of my notes from the meetings in some upcoming posts.

First we need to remember that it is God that keeps our souls amoung the living. Psalm 66:9 We are encouraged in Proverbs 25:2 to search out a matter. And the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman does good, she brings her food from afar, watches over her household. We should not be ignorant about what we are putting into our bodies. As Christians we need to take care of our bodies to help us serve God better.

Water
Three-quarters of your body is water. Your body uses 64 ounces just for basic body functions daily. All our cells have water in them. Our skin needs water to be hydrated, our digestive system needs water to function smoothly, joints need water to move, water keeps organs healthy by flusing toxins. Water is foundational.

How much water do we need? A formula that has helped me is to drink 1/2 my body weight in ounces. Pregnant and lactating women need 3 quarts. Our body is dehydrating when it must pull water out of its own tissues, cells, and skin. While there is a danger of drinking too much water, it is usually from drinking water to fast. Your kidneys can handle about 4 gallons of water a day.

The best way is to gradually drink you water through the day. Set at timer especially if you are sedentary. Put your water away from you and get up to go get your drink. I have a hard time remembering how many cups I've drank so I put 8 almonds on the kitchen window sill. As I drink each glass of water I move an almond over. This helps remind me to drink also. In the afternoon the almonds are a snack of I am hungry. By drinking water during the day it helps to keep one from snacking too much and feeling hungry all the time. If you "think" you are hungry drink a glass of water. Then if you still "think" you are hungry eat a piece of fruit. Fruit is largely water.

The older we get the less cellular water we retain. We become less sensitive to the body's thirst. The more you drink the more you are helping your body cleanse itself from environmental toxins. Many of these toxins trigger mild reactions such as acne, dry eyes, and dull hair.

Water lessens heatburn by keeping the upper gastrointestinal tract well lubricated. Some joint and back pain comes from dehydration of the "cushions" and "discs" which are designed to be filled with water. Many digestive system complaints are helped by staying fully dehydrated. Allowing foods to move more easily through and out the body.

Future posts will talk about water contamination and filtration.