Nutrition Challenge for the Week: Get Your Drink On

I apologize for not sharing anything profound with you, but for me...it often seems profoundly impossible to drink enough H2O in a day. Especially with the amount of sweating I do. It takes conscious effort and discipline. 

So my nutrition challenge for the week is 

to drink 1 Gallon of Water every day. 

I have tried doing this so many times and it is HARD. But when I am properly hydrated, I notice significant improvements in the way I feel, the way I look, and the way I perform. 

I want to start talking about ways to reset our metabolisms and cleanse our bodies in such a way that we feel amazing and have a fresh start to new and healthy habits. The most essential component of nourishing your body is to HYDRATE IT!!! And the faster you want to rid your body of toxic material, the more water you need to consume. If you have a headache, you are tired, you have an insatiable appetite, you are breaking out, or have any other host of yucky symptoms, then start adding more water and I guarantee you that you will see huge changes. 

Below is an excerpt I found from a mangosteen's natural remedies. When you read this, you kind of can't deny your body's desperate need for adequate water.

Functions of Water in The Body

The human body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size. A rule of thumb, 2/3 of body is consists of water, and it is the main component of human body. Did you know that your tissues and organs are mainly made up of water? Here is the %:

• Muscle consists of 75% water
• Brain consists of 90% of water
• Bone consists of 22% of water
• Blood consists of 83% water

The functions of water in human body are vital. The water:

• Transports nutrients and oxygen into cells
• Moisturizes the air in lungs
• Helps with metabolism
• Protects our vital organ
• Helps our organs to absorb nutrients better
• Regulates body temperature
• Detoxifies
• Protects and moisturizes our joints

Every cell in your body needs water from head to toe. That is why it is so important to drink enough fluid. Take for example, brain consists of 90% of water, if you do not supply enough water to your body, your brain cannot function well, and you will get headache or migraine. Hence, next time, if you feel fatigue and headache, it may be the sign of dehydration.

Harmful Effects and Symptoms of Dehydration

The Harmful Effects Result from Dehydration:

• Tiredness
• Migraine
• Constipation
• Muscle cramps
• Irregular blood pressure
• Kidney problems
• Dry skin
• 20% dehydrated – Risk of death

Symptoms of Dehydration

Here are some of the symptoms that you need more water:

• Dark Urine – Dark Yellow or Orange in Color: Urine is generally pale yellow to clear when you have sufficient water intake. Dark color or strong smell indicates that you need to drink more water.
• Dry Skin: Skin is the largest body organ and requires its share of water.
• Thirst: Thirst is the most obvious sign that you're already dehydrated. It is always a good practice to drink more water when your are not thirsty, don’t wait until you're thirsty.
• Hunger: Most people mistake hunger for the indication to eat more, whereas in actual fact, they may be dehydrated. So before you have your meal, grab a glass of water.
• Fatigue: Water is a source of energy and gives you a boost in energy.

Alright! SO Who is with me? 1 Gallon of water ever day? If you are not as active then aim for at least a half gallon. For me...the easiest way to do this is to carry an actual gallon of water around with me. Every so often, I'll stop and do a 10 second chug. I like to be dramatic about things I don't want to do. 

The biggest improvements I am looking for this week are 

1. Clearer skin

2. Decreased joint pain (all this running in hard on my legs. I've had to take a break)

Hit me up and let me know if you'd like to take on this challenge with me!!