I’ve spent a lot of time researching this subject and have gleaned and learned so much. There’s a lot of information here, but I hope you will take the time to read through it all. You’ll be amazed at what water can do for us physically and emotionally.
Socrates is credited to have said, "Water brings life; life needs water." How right he was. Every function of the body is dependent in some way upon water. Hormones, nutrients, brain and neurotransmitters all need water for the manufacture, transportation, and utilization of nutrients in every cell, organ, and system. Without food most of us would perish in approximately 50 days if we have adequate water. Without water we might make it 10 days or so; that's about it. Only our need for air outranks water. Our bodies need a continuous supply of pure water to maintain the delicate balance which sustains life. By weight our body is about 72% water, another 8% is a combination of chemical compounds, and the remaining 20% is bone and solid tissue. Our blood is approximately 90% water. Our brains consist of 85% water. Water is vitally important to our well-being. Since our bodies are primarily water, it only makes sense that how much water we consume will have a very dramatic impact on our overall state of health.
Every healing and life-giving process that happens in our body needs water!
Dad and I recently watched a lecture on this very subject in which the doctor said that our bodies eliminate at least 2 quarts of fluid each day and it is vital that we replace that fluid so that our bodies can function as they were designed to. We alone are responsible to replace what is lost. The water you drink literally becomes you.
Water has numerous roles that it plays in our bodily functions:
1. Solvent: In chemistry water is known as the universal solvent; in the body it serves the same role. It provides the basis for all the body's chemical processes.
2. Transportation: Water circulates throughout the body as blood, lymph, cerebral spinal fluid, etc. In these fluids, nutrients like oxygen, vitamins, and minerals flow to the cells while waste products are carried away in water-based fluids.
3. Regulation of Temperature and pH: When the body temperature rises due to exercise or other exertion water is lost as sweat this serves as a coolant to the body. Water also helps the body maintain delicate pH balances. The blood absolutely needs to be maintained at a pH between 7.3 and 7.4.
4. Volume and Mass: Water helps to give cells shape by providing the fluid for extracellular fluids (the fluid between cells) and intracellular fluids (fluid within the cell). The intracellular fluid accounts for approximately 40% of the total body weight.
5. Lubrication: Water acts as a lubricant in a number of different ways. For example, in a joint it forms synovial fluid; in the lungs it helps with breathing by forming surfactant.
As you can see, every process in our body takes place in a water medium. It aids in digestion and absorption of food, regulates body temperature and blood circulation, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, and removes toxins and other wastes. This ‘body water’ also cushions joints, and protects tissues and organs, including the spinal cord, from shock and damage. On the other hand the lack of water can be the cause of many ailments. Chronic dehydration may cause certain problems for the body, including hypertension, asthma, allergies, and headaches. Most people don’t drink enough water. The body responds to this deficiency in a variety of ways, which we frequently see as illnesses. Ongoing dehydration may cause actual disease as the body struggles to maintain itself with insufficient water.
Here a few ways in which water affects our health:
Metabolism: Water is the medium for various enzymatic and chemical reactions in the body. It moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies, and oxygen through the blood stream and lymphatic system. The proteins and enzymes of the body function more efficiently in solutions of lower viscosity. (Water flows easily.) Water is the solvent of the body, and it regulates all functions, including the activity of everything it dissolves and circulates.
Weight Loss: Among its other benefits, water plays a major role in weight loss. Since water contains no calories, it can serve as an appetite suppressant, and help the body metabolize stored fat, it may possibly one of the most significant factors in losing weight. Also drinking more water helps to reduce water retention by stimulating your kidneys. Dehydration leads to excess body fat, poor muscle tone and size, decreased digestive efficiency and organ function, increased toxicity, joint and muscle soreness, and water retention. Water works to keep muscles and skin toned.
Digestive System: The digestion of solid foods depends on the presence of a lot of water. Acids and enzymes in the stomach break the food down into a homogenized fluid state which can pass into the intestine for the next phase of digestion. An acid stomach will respond to hydration. Constipation is a frequent symptom of dehydration. Many stomach problems and especially heartburn will usually decrease with increased water intake. Water eliminates toxins and waste from the body.
Kidneys: The kidneys remove wastes such as uric acid, urea, and lactic acid, all of which must be dissolved in water. When there isn’t sufficient water, those wastes are not effectively removed, which may result in damage to the kidneys.
Joints: Water lubricates our joints. The cartilage tissues found at the ends of the long bones and between the vertebrae of the spine hold a lot of water, which serves as a lubricant during the movement of the joint. When the cartilage is well hydrated, the two opposing surfaces glide freely and friction damage is minimal. If the cartilage is dehydrated, the rate of abrasive damage is increased, resulting in joint deterioration and pain. The actively growing blood cells in the bone marrow take priority over the cartilage for the available water that goes through the bone structure.
Back: 75% of the upper body weight is supported by the water volume that is stored in the spinal disc core. 25% is supported by the fibrous materials around the disc. The spinal joints are dependent on different hydraulic properties of water which is stored in the disc core. Back pain is frequently alleviated with hydration.
The Brain: Brain tissue is 85% water. Although the brain is only 1/50th of the body weight, it uses 1/20th of the blood supply. With dehydration, the level of energy generation in the brain is decreased. Depression and chronic fatigue syndrome are frequently results of dehydration. Dehydration plays a part in bringing on migraines. Dehydration also plays a role in stress. Have you ever experienced brain fog?
Breathing: We even need water to breathe!! As we take in oxygen and excrete CO2, our lungs must be moistened by water. We actually lose a significant amount of water each day just by exhaling. Asthma is oft times relieved when water intake is increased. Histamine plays a key role in regulating the way the body uses and distributes water and helps control the body’s defense mechanisms.
Because we have asthma and allergies in our family I spent some time studying Histamine and its relationship to water. This is what I found out:
“The Histamine Water Rationing System”
"All life began in water; even the developing fetus is surrounded by water. When the body is deprived of water, a water rationing system takes effect. Histamine, a neurotransmitter becomes active and redistributes water throughout the body.
The order of circulatory priority is the:
1st - Brain,
2nd - Lungs,
3rd - Liver,
4th - Kidneys,
5th - Glands,
6th - Muscles, bones and skin.
In that order.
During periods of dehydration, histamine insures that these vital organs have enough water to function properly. If enough water is not supplied, it must be taken from within the body. Chronic dehydration can cause histamine to become excessively active. This may result in symptoms that may be mistaken for other disorders such as:
• Allergies,
• Asthma,
• Dyspepsia,
• Colitis,
• Constipation,
• Rheumatoid arthritis, and
• Chronic pains in various parts of the body such as migraine headaches.
Nutrition Info: Dangers of Chronic Dehydration by Albert Grazia, M.S., N.D.
"A large amount of water is normally lost from the lungs as water vapor through expired air. Histamine, which also controls bronchial muscle contractions, may attempt to restrict water loss through expiration by constricting the bronchial muscles."
Nutrition Info: Dangers of Chronic Dehydration by Albert Grazia, M.S., N.D.
As allergy season fast approaches I’m ready to put this to the test!!!
Last year I bought and read a book by a medical doctor by the name of Batmanghelidj, “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water” It was a very thought provoking book. I’d recommend you reading it.
NOTE: Just because the substance you drink contains water it does not take the place of plain water. Once the chemical structure is altered, such as in hot drinks, juice, or soft drinks, the water loses its ability to be used in its vital roles. Some of these drinks counteract the positive effects of the added water. Caffeinated drinks stimulate the adrenal glands and act as diuretics, robbing the body of necessary water. Soft drinks contain phosphorus which can lead to the depletion of bone calcium. These drinks tax the body more than they cleanse it. So these do not count toward your daily intake of water.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Week 1 focus: The Bodometer
Many of the ideas here have been adapted from the book ‘Thin Within,’ by Judy Halliday RN and Arthur Halliday MD. We have made a few modifications.
The Bodometer is all about conscious eating. This is not a diet and there are no laws of what you can and can’t eat. What we have here, are keys that if followed, can lead to better health. If you happen to lose weight along the way, that would be an added bonus.
When we sit to eat, we thank Heavenly Father for our food and ask Him to bless it, and then we snarf it down giving no more thought to the wondrous blessing of having had so much given to us. If we were truly thankful we would be more mindful of the blessing of food in our lives and less likely to abuse the use of it. As I would always say to my children, “Think of the starving children in Africa.”
Keys to conscious eating:
1. Eat only when your body is hungry.
This principle is at the heart of becoming aware of your body and what it needs. Most of us eat much more food than what our bodies need to function efficiently. Much of our over eating occurs when we aren’t even hungry. We need to eat when we are hungry and stop when we are not. It is also important to remember that we NEED to eat when we are hungry. That is as important as not eating until you are hungry. If you need to be hungry at mealtime, so as to eat with your family, make sure that you watch carefully what you are eating between meals. You need to be at a 0 on the hunger scale before you eat. This week begin to listen to the God given cue of hunger and respond accordingly.
2. Eat in a calm environment.
Before those with little children come unglued, let’s look at this a little closer. A chaotic environment can produce chaotic eating. We’ve all been there. For those with no children at home or older children, reducing distractions is possible so that we can eat in a calm environment. Those with little children can practice being calm in spite of the distractions. If a calm environment is not possible at mealtime, it is possible to develop an inner calm. Remaining calm in the midst of chaos is a great goal for all of us whether there be little children or not. If our mind is elsewhere or we are distracted, we do not enjoy our food, and we find ourselves going back for seconds because we were not present the first time around.
3. Eat when sitting down.
Americans are famous for eating on the run, and much of our unconscious or mindless eating is done while driving. If you eat on the run or while standing at the kitchen counter, you aren’t fully focused on the food or enjoying present time eating. When this happens, you may hear yourself saying, “I haven’t had a thing to eat all day. If you sit down and take time to focus on giving your body the fuel it needs to function efficiently, your mind will record the fact that you have eaten. Often in our hurry-on-the-go lifestyles not only do our hearts and minds feel depleted, our bodies do also.
4. Eat when your mind and body are relaxed.
Invite the one who said, “Peace be still”, to dine with you.
5. Eat and drink the food and beverages your body enjoys.
This is not a diet. It is a known fact, that as people eat with freedom, they tend to make wiser and healthier food choices. When people strive to adhere to a strict diet, most often they have to deny themselves what they love to eat. This results in misery and a stronger attraction to the forbidden food. You will however be encouraged to eat healthy most of the time and to use the food pyramid to which there is a link on this blog. You will also be encouraged to eat within the parameters of empty and satisfied as shown on the Hunger Scale at the end. Too often we get caught up in thinking we are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ based on what we eat. Remember that food can’t cleanse the heart no matter how little fat or how much fiber it contains. There are no forbidden foods. (Unless you have an allergy to one.) However, remember, “Everything is permissible to me, but not everything is beneficial.”
6. Pay attention to the food while eating.
As you do this you will enjoy mealtime and be ‘less likely’ to snarf it down while giving it no thought at all, and you will be ‘more likely’ to be grateful for the bounties that the Lord has given you.
7. Eat Slowly.
There are many health benefits to this key as well as to all the other keys. As we chew our food longer our digestive systems respond favorably, and can do the job better that they were designed to do.
8. Stop before your body is full.
If you are looking to lose weight this would be the key. We or at least I have trained myself to stop when I am full. I think that for most people this key maybe the hardest. We often think that if we are not full we are not done. We need to train ourselves to stop at a place of comfort before our bodies are ‘full’ or ‘stuffed’.
10 _______________Stuffed
9
8
7 ________________Full
6
5 ________________Satisfied
4
3
2
1
0 ________________Hungry
If you eat between 5 and 10 you gain weight. If you eat between 3 and 7 you maintain weight.
If you eat between 0 and 5 you release weight. We don’t want to lose weight. When we lose something we hope find it again.
Our goal is to stay within the parameters of 0 and 5.
Keep in mind that these are keys to having a healthy body. They are not rules. They are meant only to be tools to serve you. Every one of these keys or tools has health benefits attached to them. For the next 12 weeks we encourage you to give these tools a test run. Our goal is to have a healthy body and spirit and to show respect to both. We feel that by so doing, we show Heavenly Father in both word and deed that we are truly grateful for these wonderful bodies that we have been blessed with, and that we are grateful for all of the bounties that He bestows upon us each day for our physical and spiritual well-being.
The Bodometer is all about conscious eating. This is not a diet and there are no laws of what you can and can’t eat. What we have here, are keys that if followed, can lead to better health. If you happen to lose weight along the way, that would be an added bonus.
When we sit to eat, we thank Heavenly Father for our food and ask Him to bless it, and then we snarf it down giving no more thought to the wondrous blessing of having had so much given to us. If we were truly thankful we would be more mindful of the blessing of food in our lives and less likely to abuse the use of it. As I would always say to my children, “Think of the starving children in Africa.”
Keys to conscious eating:
1. Eat only when your body is hungry.
This principle is at the heart of becoming aware of your body and what it needs. Most of us eat much more food than what our bodies need to function efficiently. Much of our over eating occurs when we aren’t even hungry. We need to eat when we are hungry and stop when we are not. It is also important to remember that we NEED to eat when we are hungry. That is as important as not eating until you are hungry. If you need to be hungry at mealtime, so as to eat with your family, make sure that you watch carefully what you are eating between meals. You need to be at a 0 on the hunger scale before you eat. This week begin to listen to the God given cue of hunger and respond accordingly.
2. Eat in a calm environment.
Before those with little children come unglued, let’s look at this a little closer. A chaotic environment can produce chaotic eating. We’ve all been there. For those with no children at home or older children, reducing distractions is possible so that we can eat in a calm environment. Those with little children can practice being calm in spite of the distractions. If a calm environment is not possible at mealtime, it is possible to develop an inner calm. Remaining calm in the midst of chaos is a great goal for all of us whether there be little children or not. If our mind is elsewhere or we are distracted, we do not enjoy our food, and we find ourselves going back for seconds because we were not present the first time around.
3. Eat when sitting down.
Americans are famous for eating on the run, and much of our unconscious or mindless eating is done while driving. If you eat on the run or while standing at the kitchen counter, you aren’t fully focused on the food or enjoying present time eating. When this happens, you may hear yourself saying, “I haven’t had a thing to eat all day. If you sit down and take time to focus on giving your body the fuel it needs to function efficiently, your mind will record the fact that you have eaten. Often in our hurry-on-the-go lifestyles not only do our hearts and minds feel depleted, our bodies do also.
4. Eat when your mind and body are relaxed.
Invite the one who said, “Peace be still”, to dine with you.
5. Eat and drink the food and beverages your body enjoys.
This is not a diet. It is a known fact, that as people eat with freedom, they tend to make wiser and healthier food choices. When people strive to adhere to a strict diet, most often they have to deny themselves what they love to eat. This results in misery and a stronger attraction to the forbidden food. You will however be encouraged to eat healthy most of the time and to use the food pyramid to which there is a link on this blog. You will also be encouraged to eat within the parameters of empty and satisfied as shown on the Hunger Scale at the end. Too often we get caught up in thinking we are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ based on what we eat. Remember that food can’t cleanse the heart no matter how little fat or how much fiber it contains. There are no forbidden foods. (Unless you have an allergy to one.) However, remember, “Everything is permissible to me, but not everything is beneficial.”
6. Pay attention to the food while eating.
As you do this you will enjoy mealtime and be ‘less likely’ to snarf it down while giving it no thought at all, and you will be ‘more likely’ to be grateful for the bounties that the Lord has given you.
7. Eat Slowly.
There are many health benefits to this key as well as to all the other keys. As we chew our food longer our digestive systems respond favorably, and can do the job better that they were designed to do.
8. Stop before your body is full.
If you are looking to lose weight this would be the key. We or at least I have trained myself to stop when I am full. I think that for most people this key maybe the hardest. We often think that if we are not full we are not done. We need to train ourselves to stop at a place of comfort before our bodies are ‘full’ or ‘stuffed’.
10 _______________Stuffed
9
8
7 ________________Full
6
5 ________________Satisfied
4
3
2
1
0 ________________Hungry
If you eat between 5 and 10 you gain weight. If you eat between 3 and 7 you maintain weight.
If you eat between 0 and 5 you release weight. We don’t want to lose weight. When we lose something we hope find it again.
Our goal is to stay within the parameters of 0 and 5.
Keep in mind that these are keys to having a healthy body. They are not rules. They are meant only to be tools to serve you. Every one of these keys or tools has health benefits attached to them. For the next 12 weeks we encourage you to give these tools a test run. Our goal is to have a healthy body and spirit and to show respect to both. We feel that by so doing, we show Heavenly Father in both word and deed that we are truly grateful for these wonderful bodies that we have been blessed with, and that we are grateful for all of the bounties that He bestows upon us each day for our physical and spiritual well-being.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Introduction
Welcome once again to an enlightening personal journey. Our primary goal is to move closer to becoming Christlike and to glorify the Father in body, soul, and spirit. This 12 week challenge is designed to help us make the necessary changes in our lives to achieve that goal. In Proverbs 29:13 we read, “Where there is no vision the people perish.”
When we begin to see that the Father in His infinite love for us, created each one of us uniquely and very specifically, we begin to develop an appreciation for our own bodies.
“Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth within you?
If any man defileth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is Holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor 3:16-17
Pray for success as you make necessary changes in your lives and in your own personal temple. All of the Lord’s temples are cleaned out and refurbished once a year. Perhaps this is a good time for us to evaluate and make the necessary changes in our own temples and to create an environment in our homes where the spirit of the Lord can dwell. Inscribed on the walls to each temple are the words, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ It is possible to have these words inscribed in our hearts. It is important to invite the Lord to be a part of your journey because, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Ps. 127:1
We will start on Sept. 20th and continue for 12 weeks. The program has been designed so that we may accumulate points. Each participant will contribute to the booty, and at the end of the 12 weeks the winner will choose first, then on down until everyone who faithfully completes all 12 weeks receives something. What you contribute can be a talent, time, a book, a gift card, or anything you can think of that the winner might enjoy.
Here are some requirements to remember that we didn’t put on the chart, if you want the points:
Exercise (30 minutes of any kind: yoga, walking, strength training, aerobics, even stretching)
Healthy Eating (Some of us found the food guide pyramid didn't work for our bodies. Choose an area in the food category that is challenging you and set a personal goal. For example, eating well balanced meals, eating smaller portions, carbs in moderation, or more vegetables. Set a specific goal that can easily be measured.)
Water (8 glasses for adults, 6 for young adults)
Vitamins (Multi)
Sleep (At least 7 hours)
Scriptures (At least 30 minutes.)
Prayer (At least twice a day. Family prayer can be one. Pray for success as you try to implement this program.)
Service (Have I done any good in the world today. Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? A smile, a kind word, a phone call, a listening ear, these can be simple acts of service that will brighten another’s day.)
Journal (Sometimes a paragraph is all that is needed. On a bad day a sentence will suffice.)
De-clutter (Anything, a drawer, a cupboard, under a bed, a closet. At least 15 minutes to get a point. If it takes all week to finish a project that’s OK.)
Home & Garden (Anything that beautifies your home or yard. Housework of any kind counts. At least 30 minutes is required to get a point.)
Creativity (This includes hobbies. Sewing, knitting, photography, scrapbooking, organizing, decorating, ect. Start a project. Create something. There’s unorganized matter all around us.)
Finish a project (You know all those projects that never quite got finished and are taking up useful space? Finish one up for an extra 5 points each week!)
Food Storage (5 points per week if anything is added)
Temple experience (Attend the temple. Family History. Indexing. Start your life history or your children’s. Scrapbook. Update your blog! Start organizing your history.)
We will not be using the addiction recovery manual this time through as a group. Feel free to use it individually.
New: We've decided to take 1 free day a week, so only track 6 days for points, or track every day and count your 6 most successful days.
Also New: In order to get the week's points, total must be posted under that week by 12 a.m. the following Monday night.
If you decide to play, make your acceptance on the blog and declare whatever you intend to put into the booty. We will e-mail out an updated checklist. Each week check in on the blog, and read the focus for the week. If you get 100% on the focus for the week you get an extra 5 points.
Hope you’ll join us on the journey.
When we begin to see that the Father in His infinite love for us, created each one of us uniquely and very specifically, we begin to develop an appreciation for our own bodies.
“Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth within you?
If any man defileth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is Holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor 3:16-17
Pray for success as you make necessary changes in your lives and in your own personal temple. All of the Lord’s temples are cleaned out and refurbished once a year. Perhaps this is a good time for us to evaluate and make the necessary changes in our own temples and to create an environment in our homes where the spirit of the Lord can dwell. Inscribed on the walls to each temple are the words, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ It is possible to have these words inscribed in our hearts. It is important to invite the Lord to be a part of your journey because, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Ps. 127:1
We will start on Sept. 20th and continue for 12 weeks. The program has been designed so that we may accumulate points. Each participant will contribute to the booty, and at the end of the 12 weeks the winner will choose first, then on down until everyone who faithfully completes all 12 weeks receives something. What you contribute can be a talent, time, a book, a gift card, or anything you can think of that the winner might enjoy.
Here are some requirements to remember that we didn’t put on the chart, if you want the points:
Exercise (30 minutes of any kind: yoga, walking, strength training, aerobics, even stretching)
Healthy Eating (Some of us found the food guide pyramid didn't work for our bodies. Choose an area in the food category that is challenging you and set a personal goal. For example, eating well balanced meals, eating smaller portions, carbs in moderation, or more vegetables. Set a specific goal that can easily be measured.)
Water (8 glasses for adults, 6 for young adults)
Vitamins (Multi)
Sleep (At least 7 hours)
Scriptures (At least 30 minutes.)
Prayer (At least twice a day. Family prayer can be one. Pray for success as you try to implement this program.)
Service (Have I done any good in the world today. Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? A smile, a kind word, a phone call, a listening ear, these can be simple acts of service that will brighten another’s day.)
Journal (Sometimes a paragraph is all that is needed. On a bad day a sentence will suffice.)
De-clutter (Anything, a drawer, a cupboard, under a bed, a closet. At least 15 minutes to get a point. If it takes all week to finish a project that’s OK.)
Home & Garden (Anything that beautifies your home or yard. Housework of any kind counts. At least 30 minutes is required to get a point.)
Creativity (This includes hobbies. Sewing, knitting, photography, scrapbooking, organizing, decorating, ect. Start a project. Create something. There’s unorganized matter all around us.)
Finish a project (You know all those projects that never quite got finished and are taking up useful space? Finish one up for an extra 5 points each week!)
Food Storage (5 points per week if anything is added)
Temple experience (Attend the temple. Family History. Indexing. Start your life history or your children’s. Scrapbook. Update your blog! Start organizing your history.)
We will not be using the addiction recovery manual this time through as a group. Feel free to use it individually.
New: We've decided to take 1 free day a week, so only track 6 days for points, or track every day and count your 6 most successful days.
Also New: In order to get the week's points, total must be posted under that week by 12 a.m. the following Monday night.
If you decide to play, make your acceptance on the blog and declare whatever you intend to put into the booty. We will e-mail out an updated checklist. Each week check in on the blog, and read the focus for the week. If you get 100% on the focus for the week you get an extra 5 points.
Hope you’ll join us on the journey.
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