After breath, the next need our bodies have is for WATER – whether bottled or straight from the tap. The amount of water in our bodies gets less as we age – from 75% as a child, to around 60% in an elder.
A useful test for dehydration is to lightly pinch the skin on the back of your hand – or that of your aged parent, or patient. When you let go, the skin should release back to normal at once. If a ridge remains, even for a few seconds, that is a clear sign that you need to drink more water.
I was shown this test by my doctor after I had had very bad food poisoning, and was so dehydrated that I became quite disorientated, couldn’t keep my balance, could hardly walk, had pins and needles all over – I thought I was developing some severe neurological condition. Fortunately, once I had rehydrated with electrolyte salts, calm was restored. So…
- If your brain is tired – drink some water.
- If your bowels are sluggish – drink more water.
- If you have dark circles under your eyes – drink more water.
- If your joints are aching – drink more water.
- If you are suffering from hay fever, particularly with a streaming nose – drink more water
- If you have bad breath – drink more water.
- If your urine is darker than pale yellow – drink more water
- If you have a headache or a migraine brewing – drink a LOT of water
- If you are thirsty – drink more water. (Apparently, thirst quite a late sign of water lack)
“But I don’t like the taste of water“ I hear you say…
Something I find helpful, as I am not keen on the chlorine taste of water straight from the tap, is to pour a glass of water – or even better, a jug – and simply let it stand for half an hour, an hour. This is a bit like letting a bottle of wine breathe. A lot of the chlorine will evaporate off, particularly in the warmer weather, and the truer taste of the water comes through. Try this and see if you can taste the difference.
Recently I have started playing around with infusing water – whether a chunk or two of fresh root ginger, or a sprig of fresh herb. At the moment my favourite is rosemary, which incidentally is also very good for the brain.
There was some lovely research done at Northumbria University presented in 2016 on how rosemary can help older people remember more clearly – though I am sure it will help people of any age!
I have also seen rosemary water for sale at an exorbitant price in a well known upmarked foodstore, much easier and cheaper to make your own – whether from a rosemary bush in your own garden, or buying some fresh rosemary. And rubbing the leaves gives off that wonderful aroma, an instant head and thought clearer.
Mmm, I wonder if it will catch on in offices? Putting some rosemary oil on an air diffuser, might be worth a try.
If you live or work in or near Baldock in North Hertfordshire, or Bromley in South East London, and would like to have a chat about how osteopathy might be able to help you, then do get in touch: text me or call me on 07535 350 343. I may be with a patient, so a text is best, and I can call you back.