Have you noticed how the very basic things you need to do to not only be healthy but to live and thrive overlap and cover a lot of ground? Exercise improves physical health and mental health. Gentle exercise reduces cortisol levels and improves strength and endurance. Being outside barefoot helps improve your gut and allows you to get vitamin D from the sun. Eating healthy aids your gut, hydration and keeps you from being susceptible to not only every day illnesses but can improve your chances against life threatening issues such as cancer, heart disease and sugar imbalances.
I am a big believer in keeping things simple and practical in order to keep them possible to actually do. When something that is essential has multiple benefits that is a win-win for me and goes to show how intricately connected we are physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
Hydration is one of these basic human needs. It is important year around BUT even more so during these hot summer months! Being hydrated affects your physical abilities and can aid your emotional stability. Dehydration affects your energy levels, weight gain, inability for the body to detox and cleanse properly, the quality of your immune system and can be the cause of headaches and feeling brain fog. Severe dehydration can even become life threatening if you are not aware of the symptoms. Let's review the what, symptoms to watch for and some proactive steps you can take to feel your best and perform optimally.
What is dehydration? Dehydration is the harmful reduction of water in the body. Your body can not carry out it's most basic functions without proper water consumption. Most professionals agree that if you are thirsty, you are already on your way to being dehydrated.
When dehydrated, your body can lose it's ability to cool itself and your internal temperature can rise quickly. According to MEDIC/ASHI, some risks associated with dehydration that come with these hot summer days include these three heat related emergencies:
Heat cramps. Signs include heavy sweating and painful muscle cramps in the abdomen, arms and legs.
Heat exhaustion. Signs of heat cramps plus intense thirst, weakness, faintness, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and pale, cool skin.
Heat stroke. Signs of heat exhaustion plus a high body temperature, confusion, slurred speech, seizures, fast breathing and pulse, severe headache or unresponsiveness.
Know the signs of heat related emergencies. Cool the individual down quickly and give them fluids that are not super cold. Conventional ways that are often used to cool someone include immersion in cool water, cool cloths at pulse points and getting them into the shade or air conditioned environment. Do not hesitate to call 911 if you suspect an emergency. Emergency hydration such as an IV or retention enema may be necessary interventions to help the person at risk.
The best thing you can do is be proactive!
PROACTIVE HYDRATION APPROACH:
*Drink water. Don't skip electrolytes.
You have heard that drinking enough water is essential and this is true. It is a general rule of thumb to aim for about half of your body weight in ounces of water a day. There have been times however where drinking a lot of water may still leave you feeling thirsty. I have found that this tends to be when I am low on electrolytes. I have found adding ferment brines and hydrating fruits and veggies to my diet go a long way in helping me feel and be more hydrated. Occasionally I will just add a pinch of sea salt to my lemon water or hydrosol water to give myself an extra boost. Dr Josh Axe recommends including the following electrolyte/mineral rich (essential for staying hydrated) foods:
Celery
Watermelon
Cucumber
Kiwi
Bell peppers
Citrus fruit
Carrots
Pineapple
Iceberg lettuce
Radish
Tomatoes
Cauliflower
Spinach
Berries
Broccoli
*Drink fluids before, during and after physical activity. Be sure to include small amounts of nourishing drinks like water keifer, kombucha and ferment brines. (We often have free water keifer grains and kombucha starters!)
*Do heavy outdoor work and athletic activities in the early mornings and evenings. Most people around the world who live without AC know to take breaks midday due to the heat. When we were living on the farm, the hottest part of the day was reserved for swimming in the creek, playing games in the shade and resting.
*Give yourself time to acclimate from cold air conditioned environments to intense heat outside.
*Refrain from drinking extremely cold drinks when you have been exerting yourself physically in the heat. We play hard outdoors and have lived entire summers without AC in the TN heat without any complications due to following the tips above. However, at a park one day the kids had been playing volleyball for quite some time. One of my children returned, hot and quickly guzzled an ice cold drink. Within minutes he displayed signs of shock from the contrast between the temperature in his body and the crazy cold fluids. We immediately sat him down and cooled him down in a vehicle with AC. Thankfully he was ok.
Do you want to know more about how to handle heat related emergencies and other life threatening issues? Sign up your group, church or family for one of our CPR/Basic First Aid Courses! www.mindsetmatterscoach.com
Get basic ferment instructions here: Basic Ferment Recipes-This is so important! (lchaimessentialoils.com)
Order FREE kombucha starter or water keifer grains with any order by adding a comment to your order or emailing me here: lchaimessentialoils@gmail.com
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