STRESS? Step 3: Water!

Have you ever noticed that when you have to do something stressful, your mouth suddenly becomes dry? Regardless whether it is a presentation that you have been dreading or a confrontation with someone, suddenly your tongue feels like its wearing socks. The toll that stress and anxiety take on our bodies is often multiplied by one simple missing link – extra water!

Did you know that when we feel worried or stressed, our brain sends a message to our body that we are in danger? As a result, our adrenals pump more adrenaline so our heart rate and blood pressure increase, digestive functions slow down, and our entire system goes into red alert. Breathing and being present can assist with relaxing our system to yellow alert, but the demands on our body still remain. A major key in helping our body and mind function during this high stress time is hydration – and that means water. In addition, during high stress your body needs much greater amounts of water than when relaxed and happy.

Most adults need to drink about 2 liters of water per day to support the body. Water is essential for healthy heart rate, proper brain function, sturdy digestion, and efficient elimination of toxins. Have you ever noticed that heart attacks, confusion, and ulcer flair-ups happen to people most during stressful situations? Lots of fluids are critical when you are under high stress to keep these systems functioning properly.

I’ve heard that by the time you are thirsty, you are already about 30% dehydrated. Most of us have become comfortable with being dehydrated, so we feel ‘normal’ when our systems are dehydrated. I was amazed after a several weeks of drinking 2 liters of purified water a day how much ‘calmer’ my body felt. I discovered that my body could feel differently, even though my circumstances were the same.

You notice I mention ‘weeks’ of increased water. I had tried the hydration thing before, but hadn’t really noticed a difference except that I had to excuse myself at the most inconvenient times, lol. That was often enough to get me to stop drinking so much water! What I learned from my medical practitioner, is that the body will use the water first to detoxify itself - because for survival, eliminating toxins is more critical. Then, once toxins drop to a less critical level, the body will rehydrate. So, all that restroom time is because your system is helping to heal itself. And by the way, if you have been unconsciously dehydrated for quite a while, you are probably a bit toxic.

My family eats healthy and never takes any medications, but I now believe that I have been dehydrated for years. After a few weeks of water, my bathroom time significantly dropped and my body felt SOOO much better!! I felt so much younger and more alive. I have greater energy and think more clearly. Most of all, my ability to handle stress has dramatically improved.

Many of us work diligently to consume more liquids. The challenge is that when you drink coffee, soft drinks, sport drinks, alcohol, or even juice - you need about twice as much water just for the body to process it through. We might go for sport drinks, but these too fall under the ‘too sugary for the body to process’ category. When we consume something high in sugar, the body has to dump extra water into the intestines just to dilute it. So, we are actually dehydrating ourselves further.

So, what should you drink? The best thing to consume when under high stress is purified water, water and more water. In addition, herbal teas, chicken broth, vegetable broths and soups all encourage good digestion and help rehydrate. Herbal teas nurture and strengthen the cells of the body. Chicken broth and vegetable broths provide trace nutrients as well as extra liquids. And why soups? Soups are really easy on the digestive system, and naturally have lots of liquid that helps the system work more efficiently. You can also add fresh squeezed lemon to any of the above. Lemon is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and helps reduce parasites. So squeeze a bit of lemon to give your immune system an extra boost – along with some great flavor! (Also, that reconstituted stuff doesn’t count. You have to use fresh lemon juice)

When under high stress, you want to be easy on your body. Being supportive of you body gives it more energy to care for you and itself. 1) Breathe 2) Be Present, 3) Drink Water…3 simple things that don’t require a lot of time or energy to help you feel better. Love yourself. Love your body.