I hate feeling bloated - it is so darn uncomfortable! But did you know that you can store up to 2 stone of weight in water retention?! Unfortunately we aren’t like those clever camels who use their humps to convert fat to water as and when they need it. I wish we were - that would solve so many of our problems!
This week has been one of the hottest weeks on record in some parts of the UK and hydration hopefully will have been at the forefront of most people’s minds.
Have you ever felt that however much water you guzzle, you are still constantly thirsty? You can’t possibly be dehydrated, you say, because you drink LOADS of water throughout the day, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple...
So many diseases of the body go back to the simple fact of the matter that the body is just dehydrated. Everything from those irritating headaches to feeling constantly tired, from feeling uncomfortably bloated to the more serious life-threatening conditions.
Water Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink!...
Everything we put into our bodies that isn’t pure, unadulterated water needs water to digest. Even your cups of tea and coffee... But most of the time our bodies aren’t in a nourished enough state to actually absorb the water we are drinking. Crazy, right?! Imagine rain falling onto arid ground where the earth is so scorched, the rain initially just runs off it... Just because you ‘drink water’ does not automatically mean you are hydrated.
If you’re cell membranes aren’t in the right condition, then the cells will have a harder job of utilising that water and ensuring electrolytes can easily pass in and out of each cell. If these reactions can’t take place, we start to find ourselves in trouble and 'dis-ease' of the body sets in.
Water retention is just one of the common signs for what happens when the body is slightly dehydrated. The body, in simple terms, holds on to water in ‘the wrong place’. It will store the water in tissues and we then have a picture of unbalanced hydration levels leading to swollen ankles, bloated tummies, stiff joints, weight fluctuation. To top it off, the body can be less efficient at removing fluid from tissues during hotter weather. Yes, very frustrating!
SO WHAT CAN I DO?
Keep drinking the water but consider taking some omega oils as these play a key part in the cell membrane health, leading to better overall hydration.
Ditch the table salt! Too much sodium upsets the hydration balance.
Add in potassium- and magnesium-rich foods -they will help balance out your sodium levels. Options include:
bananas
avocados
tomatoes
sweet potatoes
leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale
BUT REMEMBER, everyone is unique with differing stress levels, different lifestyles and different diets. Therefore, the best way, if you feel you are really struggling, is to see a naturopathic practitioner, like myself, who will take the time to look at every element affecting you and tailor a plan accordingly.
Stay cool everyone!
Natasha
Comments