Water
Articles
Included:
·
Water
·
The Best Medicine
·
Know When You Are
Dehydrated
Water
--The New Outlook
Water is
important. An ostomate especially needs
to drink enough water. It is necessary
when you want to take better control of your life. Along with a balanced diet and regular
exercise, water has many positive benefits you may enjoy which provides good
health for your body and mind.
Water keeps
us fit. We all want to stay lean and
avoid adding fat. Dehydration slows down
our metabolism, which leads to a reduction in the number of calories we
burn. Did you know that sometimes when
we feel hungry, it might just be we're thirsty?
Next time instead of snacking, drink a bottle of water. You actually train your body to be
thirsty. Drink water regularly, and you
will be thirsty more often. Your body
will know when it needs water and will begin telling you, if you train it
correctly by drinking enough water.
Water helps
prevent headaches, dizziness and cramping caused from dehydration. You will also be able to think and remember
more clearly when you drink enough water throughout the day. Water distributes the chemicals our bodies
need. Enough water distributes vitamins
and minerals evenly and dilutes them enough for us to use.
Water helps
us normalize our body weight. Water
washes fats out of our bloodstream. If
we start drinking about three liters of water a day, our weight will increase
the first few days. Then, amazingly, our
weight goes down sharply. The water we
drink is washing the waste out of our bodies while making our metabolism more
efficient. Fashion models who need to
maintain a very thin figure drink water so their tissues do not store it.
Water reduces
itchy skin. It you have ever had itching
around your appliance, try drinking a glass of water. Ostomates are notorious for being
dehydrated. Our skin will become dry and
itchy when this happens. New ostomates
have the most trouble with itchy skin while their bodies adapt to their new
life. Drink water to reducing itching
and dry skin.
Water helps
lubricate the joints in our bodies. Not
only that, our skin will feel softer, and it will be smoother. Drinking water removes wrinkles and creases
in skin. You will look better. The water we drink combines with nutrients in
our body to create the oils and lubricants necessary for a healthy and good
looking body.
Water is
especially helpful to ostomates in preventing kidney stones and promoting a
healthy liver. When the kidneys are
overworked because of a lack of water, the liver must assume some of the
kidneys' tasks. This is not good. Because minerals may not be removed from the
kidneys, stones may form more easily.
Simply drinking enough water helps prevent this condition. In addition, excess bile salts are utilized
and disposed of more easily. This
assists the body in efficient operation effecting multiply organs and body
units.
Water is an
excellent remedy for a hangover, which exists partly because of
dehydration. Drinking caffeine drinks
like coffee, alcoholic beverages, sodas and the like will actually dehydrate
the body. Drink more water after
enjoying these drinks. You do not need
to remove them from your diet, you just need to drink more water when you
imbed.
Water fights
fatigue. Many people have tiring
schedules, and by the day's end are exhausted.
One source of fatigue might be that we fail to drink enough water during
the day. Make sure you always bring along a bottle of water. Drink water on the way to work, at work, at
home, away from home … all the time.
You'll feel much more energized.
Water should
be obtained from a high quality source.
Tap water should only be used in moderation. It contains toxic chemicals that are
poisonous to our bodies when overdosed.
Bottled water should not contains these toxins. Reputable water vendors have high quality
water, preferably in glass bottles, that contains minerals beneficial to us,
and which allow us to drink in sufficient quantity as to obtain the good
results promised here. One of the
easiest things you may want to do to be healthier quickly is to start drinking
three liters (that's about seven, 12 ounce glasses) of water throughout every
day. We value each of our members, and
we value the good health of each one of you too.
The Best Medicine
--Vancouver Highlife
A
year or so after my ostomy surgery, ever-increasing pain in the abdominal area
led me to my doctor, who diagnosed my symptoms as that of kidney stones. I had never had such a painful experience,
and he commiserated with me as he sent me to a urologist.
The
urologist successfully removed the stones with a little umbrella-like
instrument he inserted through my penis.
I was quite recovered in a day or two.
As I happily talked with my doctor afterwards, he said, "Do you get
thirsty often?" I replied,
"No." "There is a reason
for your kidney stones," he replied.
"Water is essential for everyone and ostomates need more than usual
because they've lost so much of their intestinal absorbing area. The best medicine I can recommend is
water. When you are thirsty, don't drink
just enough to alleviate your thirst.
Drink a glassful. Drink a
glassful often. Never pass a drinking
fountain without taking a drink."
As
I've followed his advice, I've had no recurrence of stones and have been
grateful over the years for the best medicine.
Reading up on the subject, I've discovered that water not only helps us
get red of wastes, but is vital for digestion and metabolism, helps us keep cool
through perspiration, lubricates our joints, moistens our lungs so we breathe
better, and even helps to lose weight.
Yes, water helps to metabolize fat, and if you're not getting enough
water, your body will retain what it has, thus keeping your weight up.
Normal
people need eight to ten glasses a day throughout the day and evening. "But," you object, "I'll be
swimming in water at that rate, and constantly running to the
bathroom." You are already swimming
in water. Your body is 60% to 70%
water. Your bladder will adjust to the
increased intake in no time, and you will urinate less often but in larger
amounts.
How
can we make sure we get our ten or so glasses a day? Make a chart and mark it every time you drink
a glass of water. Fill a two-quart
pitcher of water—that's 8 eight-ounce glasses—and drink from it until it's
gone. Put ten magnets on your
refrigerator door, and take one off every time you drink your eight ounces of
water. There must be as many ways to
keep track as there are people to do it.
Just be sure you get "The Best Medicine".
Know When
You Are Dehydrated
By Michael Blune, M.D.
The human body is composed of more than 50%
water. Drinking adequate amounts of
water is essential for maintaining adequate blood volume and its flow to such
vital organs as the brain and the kidneys.
Also, it is important for maintaining optimal function in the cells of
the body.
Dehydration can be defined as a significant
decrease in the total water content of the body. It occurs when the rate of water
intake—mostly by mouth—is lower than the rate of losing water from your
body—urine, skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract. When you lose a significant quantity of
water, you begin to develop symptoms and signs of dehydration. Some of these are non-specific; such as,
dizziness upon sitting or standing up from a lying position.
Why should you be worried about becoming
dehydrated? The major reason is that it
is important to avoid the complications of dehydration. When you become dehydrated, the volume of
circulating blood decreases, and this in turn decreases the flow of blood to
your vital organs.
Not only is blood flow a major problem, but
as you become dehydrated, you lose water and two minerals—potassium and
sodium—which are essential for optimal
functioning of the body.
If dehydration is mild, you might try to
re-hydrate yourself by drinking a salty broth, orange juice, a sports drink,
etc., but never alcohol or caffeine beverages.
In addition to water, important
electrolytes of potassium and sodium that the body loses through perspiration,
vomiting or diarrhea may be regained through these drinks.
When must you seek medical attention for
dehydration? All situations which
indicate concern about maintaining adequate hydration are significant. These include, but are not limited to,
profuse diarrhea, protracted vomiting—unable to keep down liquids, a very high
fever, and most importantly, if you are unable to urinate. Obviously, if you develop any of the signs of
dehydration you should be concerned.
Urgent attention to the problem should involve not only treating the
underlying causes, but replacing the liquid and electrolyte losses with
intravenous liquids, if adequate replacement by mouth is not feasible. While there are no clear cut guidelines as to
when you should seek medical attention, if any of the above concerns exist, the
best advice is to check with your doctor before complications develop.
It is most important for persons with
ostomies to consume adequate amounts of water and not develop dehydration. Ileostomates are particularly subject to
dehydration and should be most pro-active in guarding against it.