Water Keeps You Healthy: Explained by Our Naturopathic Doctor
May is Water Safety Month. There are many reminders about staying safe around water this time of year – and with good reason since worldwide, 100,000 people drown each year. But water safety can also be seen as a way to stay healthy through using water wisely.
Using Water to Stay Healthy
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of many health issues; everything from headaches and constipation to blood pressure problems can often be discovered to have been caused by not being properly hydrated. Most people don’t associate dehydration with joint pain and stiffness, though. Drinking enough water can reduce the pain in your joints by keeping the cartilage soft and hydrated, which also contributes to improved athletic performance.
Eating raw fruits and vegetables that are dense in water, like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, radishes, celery, and tomatoes can be counted as water intake. Plus, the health benefits of eating these foods adds to your overall well-being, too.
Our digestive system needs water to function properly, so if we don’t drink water, we don’t flush out waste like urine and sweat. Naturopathic doctors are very interested in what goes in and what comes out. Without flushing out waste, it then collects in our body, leading to additional health problems. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water (if you weigh 150 pounds, drink a minimum of 75 ounces of water each day).
Because warm water stimulates blood flow, soaking in water that’s around 90° to 100° works wonders for all kinds of musculoskeletal conditions, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, and low back pain. It decreases swelling and inflammation and increases circulation if you’re able to soak for at least 20 minutes. Drink a glass of water before and after your soak to stay hydrated and then do some gentle stretching while you’re in the warm water and when you’re done. Yes, our naturopathic doctor prescribes a relaxing bath!
Water Safety Month means more than staying safe around water. Add more water to your life and you’ll stay healthy, too.