June Newsletter 2018
Spread the word... for the entire month of June, any new patient will receive a discount of $20 off the price of their first visit. This is a great way for people to try chiropractic care or to check out a new doctor.
Summer is here, it’s hot, it’s dry… and it’s time to make sure to stay hydrated! Next to oxygen, water is the most important thing necessary for us to stay alive. We can go many days, even weeks, without food, but only a few without water. To understand how important water is, we must realize that seventy percent of our body weight is water. In most people, muscle tissue is made up of fifty to seventy percent water. The gray matter of the brain contains between seventy to eighty-five percent water. Bones are from twenty to thirty percent water, while blood is eighty percent water. Every bodily function requires water. It helps lubricate, protect, insulate, and give flexibility to muscles, ligaments and joints. There are also areas in the body (such as the kidneys and digestive tract) for which adequate water flow is important to keep the processes flowing. The pressure of water coming in from above is what moves the natural digestive process along. If water is inadequate, the process slows down, which can lead to deterioration.
In the kidneys, water pushes blood through the nephrons. Minerals and chemicals in the solution exchange to filter the blood. If there is inadequate hydration, the waste products that were just filtered out are either reabsorbed, or worse, they stagnate, and stay in the kidneys. Water molecules actually contribute to the chemical exchanges that the kidneys use to filter blood and balance the minerals and electrolytes to keep the pH balance correct. During digestion, the bowels need plenty of water to keep the lining of the intestine lubricated. Similar to the kidneys, without plenty of water the feces coagulate and movement gets sluggish which causes the body to reabsorb toxins that it should be getting rid of. Drinking two glasses of very warm water first thing in the morning will help the elimination process without irritating the colon lining.
When blood has less water, it becomes thicker and develops a sticky texture. The stickiness causes it to be less able to slip through the smaller capillaries and harder to pump to the farther extremities of the body. This action strains the heart. The thicker, stickier blood is also less able to replenish the heart itself. Blood circulation is much improved just by drinking enough water and staying hydrated. When this less hydrated blood gets to the brain, the stickiness affects the ability to think. Frontal headaches are a typical early symptom. Often drinking two or three glasses of water can reduce a dehydration headache in 30 minutes. Clear thinking needs water.
A key symptom of dehydration is fatigue. The blood is sticky so the brain can’t think well. In addition, the kidneys and bowels are less able to eliminate toxins that make you tired and your heart is less able to pump the thick blood. It’s no surprise you feel fatigued when you are dehydrated.
Good hydration has many health benefits, especially for the immune system. With good hydration the blood can flow quickly to remove harmful micro-organisms. Also, the kidneys can remove toxins and the large intestine can get rid of waste products quickly (on at least a daily basis), Perspiration can also excrete waste. In general, the immune system is refreshed and renewed at a healthy continual rate when supplied with proper hydration.
So, how much water consumption is enough? The minimum suggested by most sources is eight ounces for every fifteen pounds of weight. A man who weighs one hundred and eighty pounds should drink twelve cups of water (eight ounce), or three quarts a day. A woman weighing one hundred and forty pounds should drink nine glasses of water (eight ounce) a day. Fill two, one-quart bottles with water each morning and then empty them by the end of the day. If you also drink juice or some other healthy drink, then it is certain you will get enough. Water in its pure state doesn’t change on its way through the body. It is a conduit (or helper) for all these bodily functions and then is eliminated in about the same state. You will know you have consumed enough water when your urine is barely any color. If you just don’t like the taste of water I suggest putting a slice of cucumber, strawberry, apple, lemon, lime, or some other fruit or vegetable that would give the water a hint of another flavor.
In the summer, people are more inclined to drink sugary, carbonated soft drinks. What is so bad about that? Acids in carbonated soft drinks will cause demineralization that weakens bones and teeth. Those that contain high fructose corn syrup and sugars promote bacterial growth in the mouth which then promotes tooth enamel decay. High fructose corn syrup is a burden to the liver, which stores the sugars as fat. Many “light” drinks contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame (NutraSweet™). Aspartame has been studied and shown to have damaging effects on the nervous system, liver, and the brain. It can actually even confuse the pancreas so that the low-calorie beverage causes weight gain. The same goes for diet sodas, and any beverages sweetened with aspartame.
Most adults drink coffee or tea. Both contain toxins and tannic acids that can affect the heart, kidney and other vital organs. In general, they are a burden to the kidney and can irritate the digestive tract. One or two cups a day should be the limit and drink extra water to dilute their negative effect.
In 1965, a Florida football coach asked some team doctors to study heat-related illnesses and how the body is affected by heat. He wanted to explore the question, “Why were the football players so affected by heat?” The second half of a football game was marked by noticeably lower energy in his athletes. Players often succumbed to heat. Four different doctors came to the conclusion that the players were using up carbohydrates and sweating out not only water but also important electrolytes. The electrolytes were essential for muscle contraction. This began experiments with having a beverage on the sidelines that replenished the electrolytes in the players. This experiment is how the drink Gatorade™ came to exist. The coach of the Florida football team experimented with this idea for his team. When he finally found the winning combination of carbohydrates, flavor and electrolytes his team was able to outlast other teams. In 1969, Coach Ray Graves of the Florida Gators suggested using Gatorade to the Kansas City Chiefs, to combat the staggering effects of the blistering sun in the Missouri training camps. Further research from the makers of Gatorade™ showed that consuming drinks with electrolytes during exercise can help sustain endurance for more than sixty minutes. These days, there are many choices of sports drinks available at almost any store that sells beverages. Most of the time, they are a better than soda pop.
It is important to be aware that it IS possible to over-consume water. Excessive amounts of water can cause a condition called hyponatremia. Technically, that means low blood sodium compared to the general volume of blood. Symptoms include nausea, muscle weakness, headache, lethargy, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures, coma, and even death. The American Medical Athletic Association recommends five to ten ounces of fluid every fifteen minutes when doing anything physically strenuous. It is also a good idea to drink something with electrolytes to replenish what is lost in perspiration.
Welcome Facebook users… we now have a new Facebook page! Please like and follow our page, Active Life Chiropractic Woodland Park Colorado, to get the latest updates.
Summer is here, it’s hot, it’s dry… and it’s time to make sure to stay hydrated! Next to oxygen, water is the most important thing necessary for us to stay alive. We can go many days, even weeks, without food, but only a few without water. To understand how important water is, we must realize that seventy percent of our body weight is water. In most people, muscle tissue is made up of fifty to seventy percent water. The gray matter of the brain contains between seventy to eighty-five percent water. Bones are from twenty to thirty percent water, while blood is eighty percent water. Every bodily function requires water. It helps lubricate, protect, insulate, and give flexibility to muscles, ligaments and joints. There are also areas in the body (such as the kidneys and digestive tract) for which adequate water flow is important to keep the processes flowing. The pressure of water coming in from above is what moves the natural digestive process along. If water is inadequate, the process slows down, which can lead to deterioration.
In the kidneys, water pushes blood through the nephrons. Minerals and chemicals in the solution exchange to filter the blood. If there is inadequate hydration, the waste products that were just filtered out are either reabsorbed, or worse, they stagnate, and stay in the kidneys. Water molecules actually contribute to the chemical exchanges that the kidneys use to filter blood and balance the minerals and electrolytes to keep the pH balance correct. During digestion, the bowels need plenty of water to keep the lining of the intestine lubricated. Similar to the kidneys, without plenty of water the feces coagulate and movement gets sluggish which causes the body to reabsorb toxins that it should be getting rid of. Drinking two glasses of very warm water first thing in the morning will help the elimination process without irritating the colon lining.
When blood has less water, it becomes thicker and develops a sticky texture. The stickiness causes it to be less able to slip through the smaller capillaries and harder to pump to the farther extremities of the body. This action strains the heart. The thicker, stickier blood is also less able to replenish the heart itself. Blood circulation is much improved just by drinking enough water and staying hydrated. When this less hydrated blood gets to the brain, the stickiness affects the ability to think. Frontal headaches are a typical early symptom. Often drinking two or three glasses of water can reduce a dehydration headache in 30 minutes. Clear thinking needs water.
A key symptom of dehydration is fatigue. The blood is sticky so the brain can’t think well. In addition, the kidneys and bowels are less able to eliminate toxins that make you tired and your heart is less able to pump the thick blood. It’s no surprise you feel fatigued when you are dehydrated.
Good hydration has many health benefits, especially for the immune system. With good hydration the blood can flow quickly to remove harmful micro-organisms. Also, the kidneys can remove toxins and the large intestine can get rid of waste products quickly (on at least a daily basis), Perspiration can also excrete waste. In general, the immune system is refreshed and renewed at a healthy continual rate when supplied with proper hydration.
So, how much water consumption is enough? The minimum suggested by most sources is eight ounces for every fifteen pounds of weight. A man who weighs one hundred and eighty pounds should drink twelve cups of water (eight ounce), or three quarts a day. A woman weighing one hundred and forty pounds should drink nine glasses of water (eight ounce) a day. Fill two, one-quart bottles with water each morning and then empty them by the end of the day. If you also drink juice or some other healthy drink, then it is certain you will get enough. Water in its pure state doesn’t change on its way through the body. It is a conduit (or helper) for all these bodily functions and then is eliminated in about the same state. You will know you have consumed enough water when your urine is barely any color. If you just don’t like the taste of water I suggest putting a slice of cucumber, strawberry, apple, lemon, lime, or some other fruit or vegetable that would give the water a hint of another flavor.
In the summer, people are more inclined to drink sugary, carbonated soft drinks. What is so bad about that? Acids in carbonated soft drinks will cause demineralization that weakens bones and teeth. Those that contain high fructose corn syrup and sugars promote bacterial growth in the mouth which then promotes tooth enamel decay. High fructose corn syrup is a burden to the liver, which stores the sugars as fat. Many “light” drinks contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame (NutraSweet™). Aspartame has been studied and shown to have damaging effects on the nervous system, liver, and the brain. It can actually even confuse the pancreas so that the low-calorie beverage causes weight gain. The same goes for diet sodas, and any beverages sweetened with aspartame.
Most adults drink coffee or tea. Both contain toxins and tannic acids that can affect the heart, kidney and other vital organs. In general, they are a burden to the kidney and can irritate the digestive tract. One or two cups a day should be the limit and drink extra water to dilute their negative effect.
In 1965, a Florida football coach asked some team doctors to study heat-related illnesses and how the body is affected by heat. He wanted to explore the question, “Why were the football players so affected by heat?” The second half of a football game was marked by noticeably lower energy in his athletes. Players often succumbed to heat. Four different doctors came to the conclusion that the players were using up carbohydrates and sweating out not only water but also important electrolytes. The electrolytes were essential for muscle contraction. This began experiments with having a beverage on the sidelines that replenished the electrolytes in the players. This experiment is how the drink Gatorade™ came to exist. The coach of the Florida football team experimented with this idea for his team. When he finally found the winning combination of carbohydrates, flavor and electrolytes his team was able to outlast other teams. In 1969, Coach Ray Graves of the Florida Gators suggested using Gatorade to the Kansas City Chiefs, to combat the staggering effects of the blistering sun in the Missouri training camps. Further research from the makers of Gatorade™ showed that consuming drinks with electrolytes during exercise can help sustain endurance for more than sixty minutes. These days, there are many choices of sports drinks available at almost any store that sells beverages. Most of the time, they are a better than soda pop.
It is important to be aware that it IS possible to over-consume water. Excessive amounts of water can cause a condition called hyponatremia. Technically, that means low blood sodium compared to the general volume of blood. Symptoms include nausea, muscle weakness, headache, lethargy, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures, coma, and even death. The American Medical Athletic Association recommends five to ten ounces of fluid every fifteen minutes when doing anything physically strenuous. It is also a good idea to drink something with electrolytes to replenish what is lost in perspiration.
Welcome Facebook users… we now have a new Facebook page! Please like and follow our page, Active Life Chiropractic Woodland Park Colorado, to get the latest updates.
