Drink More Water
Backing out of my driveway this morning, the Sun was coming up behind me. It’s wild to wrap my head around the fact that the same incredible sunrise I see here at home is the same Sun I witnessed for two weeks in Kenya.
Finding my groove again hasn’t been hard, although it does mean returning to some habits I changed for the better while traveling.
Every day at the Chiro for Kenya clinics, we reminded thousands of people after getting adjusted to “Drink more water today!”
I wrote the phrase phonetically in Swahili and practiced it. I stumbled over the vowels and the accents, but by the end of the week, I was getting better!
'kunywa maji mengi leo'
I finally realized that the universe was letting me focus on that message over and over because I needed to hear it, too.
I need to drink more water!
November is a month of family, giving thanks, and lots of food. Lots of opportunities to overdo it! Water is a simple way to support our bodies through it all.
Without getting into the science of hydration, I invite you to take better care of yourself and become better friends with H₂O. As children we were constantly under our moms' feet in the kitchen, 'i'm thirsty!'. Years pass and our awareness of thirst diminishes, but the great need remains.
As temperatures drop, thirst awareness is less, but our need for hydration doesn't disappear. We're heating our homes, layering our clothes, and dealing with dry indoor air that often has us dehydrated. Our bodies still need adequate water.
We have a lending library, so check out Your Body's Many Cries for Water. It's definitely a book that might help you fall asleep, LOL! It's research-heavy, and the tone can be enough to make you drowsy. But it explores the common thread between dehydration and a variety of health issues in the U.S.
Years ago, Adrienne, one of my practice members, even made us a set of “Cliff Notes” for the book. We still have them! Ask at the front desk if you'd like to borrow them.
In the meantime, to better hydrate, start slowly. Try adding half a cup to your usual daily intake for a few days, then reassess what works for you.
It's easy to drink water when you're hot in Kenya. It's not always so easy to remember when the weather turns cold here at home.
Remember the Health Wheel we talk often refer to? Like slices of a pie, it includes good rest, good nutrition, exercise, hydration, good relationships, and a good nerve supply. Each contributes to the bigger picture of how we care for ourselves.
See you on the Tables soon!