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January 26, 2018

How to Hydrate More while Drinking Less Water. {Partner}

This is a post written in partnership with Liquid I.V.—we’re honored to work with anyone this dedicated to optimizing our planet and our bodies’ most precious resource. ~ Ed.

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“It is chronic water shortage in the body that causes most diseases of the human body.”
~ Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj

 

“New year, new me” was all over our Instagram feeds a few weeks ago, but how are we doing now that we’re well into the year?

Many of us felt refreshed and inspired early on in January, as we packed away our holiday decorations, swept up those pine needles, got out our exercise gear, and opened a shiny new page on the calendar, but how do we keep ourselves fueled and ready for every adventure and challenge this year will bring, even after its shine has worn off a bit?

Even if our goal isn’t to lose weight or get fit, getting outdoors and active is a great way to stave off the winter blues in the darkest days of the year.

Most of us are also trying to eat healthier, but, especially because it’s winter (for most of us anyway), the last thing we’re likely to be focusing on is how much water we’re drinking. Most of us just assume we’re getting enough of it if we’re drinking when we’re thirsty. The reality is many of us—whether we’re active or not—are just not giving our bodies enough for optimal health.

Liquid I.V. is one caring, mindful company dedicated to solving this problem.

“Water energizes food, and particles are then able to supply the food with this energy during digestion. This is why food without water has absolutely no energy value for the body.” ~ F. Batmanghelidj, MD.

The average American needs 8-10 glasses worth of water daily, and 3 out of 4 of us aren’t getting enough—not even close. In fact, 75% of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration. That means you are probably dehydrated right now. It’s a widespread problem that contributes to many health issues.

Realistically, many of us struggle to get that amount of water in our bodies mostly because of the busy lifestyles we lead.

This is where Liquid I.V.’s hydration multiplier can be of benefit.

It’s a great-tasting, non-GMO electrolyte drink mix that utilizes the breakthrough science of Cellular Transport Technology (CTT)™ to deliver hydration to the bloodstream faster and more efficiently than water alone. One Liquid I.V. sachet can provide the same hydration as drinking 2-3 bottles of water.

If we want to stick to our intentions and pace ourselves for the year ahead, we can’t afford to be dehydrated.

The daily symptoms of dehydration are all unpleasant but are also the kinds of things we often ignore or medicate. Over time, though, even minimal sustained dehydration can severely affect our overall health, and lead to chronic illness and disease. Not only does dehydration take a toll on our inner bodily functions, it eventually begins to show in our outward appearance. Think of a sponge that’s dried out in the sun. Not a great look, but more importantly—not a good feeling.

Even basic daily activities like walking and breathing (yes, even breathing alone) cause the body to excrete water and can lead to dehydration. So imagine how dehydrated you are after sweating from strenuous physical activity.

A few weeks into our good health intentions, dehydration could be a major contributing factor to the stiff muscles, fatigue, and low-key burnout many of us start to experience now, which is a reason we statistically start to fall off the wagon at this time of year.

Hydration station >>

Hydration, by definition, means the process of causing something to absorb water. Generally, we think of hydration as something that only pertains to humans, but in fact, all living things on earth need water to survive…it is the most essential chemical substance in existence.

But what does it actually do for our bodies—why is proper hydration so critical for you and me?

Here are 8 Health Benefits of Proper Hydration:

1. Maximize physical performance: Dehydration by as little as 2% of our body weight impairs our ability to perform physical activity. Losing more than 5% of our body weight in fluid can decrease our ability to workout by close to 30%. Lean muscle is comprised of about 80% water, which is why it is so crucial for exercise and physical performance. Water is one of the best (and legal) performance enhancing drugs  out there.

“Basically, dehydration leads to poorer performance and overheating. Hydration is critical.”
~ Brad Thomas, MD

2. Help fight jet lag: Dehydration amplifies the negative effects of jet lag, and it’s incredibly easy to get dehydrated when flying on a long trans-continental flights in dry cabins at high altitudes. Flights also don’t traditionally offer much in the way of hydration supply (8oz of water every 3 hours isn’t going to cut it). It’s critical to make sure you hydrate before, during, and after your flight.

3. Increase energy levels and combat fatigue: Water is one of the most important energy sources in our bodies. It has a number of enzymatic functions including contributing to good sleep, energy production throughout the day, and restoration of bodily systems. So next time you are feeling a bit sluggish, try reaching for a glass of water or Liquid I.V. instead of your third coffee of the day.

4. Promote healthy brain function and increase mental clarity: Seventy-three percent of the brain is water so it’s understandable what a big impact hydration has on the body’s most important organ. Scientific studies have shown that losing just 1.1% body water weight increases our neural effort when performing cognitive tasks, affecting short and long term memory recall, arithmetic, and general problem solving.

“When your brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, you will be able to think faster, be more focused, and experience greater clarity and creativity,” ~ Merlin and Nancy Hearn, “Water and Brain Function: How to Improve Memory and Focus.”

5. Promote healthy digestion: Dehydration is one of the leading causes of constipation. If your body doesn’t have enough water in it when your body moves food from the stomach to the large intestine, the intestine will steal and soak up the water from your food. Water and other fluids help break down food so that your body can absorb the nutrients. It also helps soften your stool which helps you have regular bowel movements (gross, but true).

6. Prevent/treat headaches and migraines: Whether it’s from a few too many the night before or simply not enough water throughout the day, a dehydration headache is no fun. When we’re dehydrated, our blood volume drops, which results in less blood and oxygen flow to the brain and dilated blood vessels. Some experts also believe that a loss of electrolytes in the body causes nerves in the brain to produce pain signals. Liquid I.V. contains the optimal ratio of electrolytes and water for effective hydration (though the best cure for a hangover is not to overdo it in the first place).

Get Liquid I.V. >>

7. Reduce premature signs of aging: Skin is the largest human organ and it is the first place to give up its water supply when the body starts to become dehydrated because priority is given to vital organs like the liver, lungs, and brain. Water allows your skin to get rid of unwanted toxins. Without water your skin can become dry, inflamed, itchy, and troubled by acne. If you want glowing skin, it’s imperative that you stay properly hydrated.

8. Prevent high blood pressure: Blood is approximately 92% water when the body is fully hydrated. The amazing thing about water in the bloodstream is that it actually dilutes the blood and prevents it from clotting during circulation. Keeping hydration levels high will keep blood moving freely through the veins and arteries, helping to prevent high blood pressure and other cardiovascular ailments. Keep your hydration levels up and the blood flowing.

So why not just drink water then?

It’s a great question. Here’s the answer: “Water is our favorite thing in the world, it’s just difficult to drink enough of it to stay properly hydrated. And that’s why we created Liquid I.V., so we all have access to the breakthrough science that allows our bodies to absorb more of nature’s favorite beverage!”

The People, Science & Vision behind Liquid I.V.

Liquid I.V. was started by two friends and collegiate athletes from Santa Monica, California, Brandin and Hayden, who were sick of consuming sports drinks filled with artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives that were not effectively hydrating them when they needed it most. In 2012, they came across the hydration science developed in the 1970s by the World Health Organization and deemed to be one of the best medical advancements of the 20th century.

This hydration breakthrough was created to aid children in developing countries suffering from extreme dehydration caused by deadly diseases such as cholera. Without access to most modern medical treatments like an IV, this specific combination of glucose, sodium, and water provided an absorption mechanism for the human body that lowered the mortality rate from diarrhea in developing countries by 93%.

Liquid I.V.’s vision was to harness this revolutionary science to the benefit of the everyday person, the extreme athlete, the peak performer in all of us, as well as those it was designed to save.

Giving back to the Source.

Dehydration is a dangerous problem that claims the lives of over 760,000 children every year. And here’s the thing, it’s totally fixable. Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier product was created with the same fundamental principles of oral rehydration solutions, a precise ratio of electrolytes, glucose, and water enabling the human body to absorb the proper hydration it needs to survive. They have made it their mission to step up to the plate and help put an end to worldwide dehydration by donating Liquid I.V. hydration powder to at-risk areas of the world that are most affected by dehydration and don’t have the resources to fight it.

So, every time you commit to your own hydration by buying Liquid I.V., you’re also helping to put Liquid I.V. into the hands of those who need it most…

With every order you place, Liquid I.V. donate one serving to someone in need around the world—from Haiti to Uganda.

Find out more about Liquid I.V.’s mission to defeat global dehydration.

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Fuel your life’s adventures & give back to those who need it most with Liquid I.V. >>

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Editor: Khara-Jade Warren
Featured Image: Courtesy of Sophie Jaffe

 

 

 

 

 

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