Water, Important for Health

Image by Hypergurl via Flickr

H2O, Aqua, Wasser. Whatever term or language you use, water is one of the most important elements for life on our planet. Without it, it would look like Mars. Water is underestimated by the general population for it's importance in maintaining health. The average body is somewhere around 60-70% water. We need it for our blood, digestion and waste removal.

The general population is under hydrated. Most folks think that by consuming coffee or soda that they are doing their part in maintaining proper hydration. (buzzer sound) AAAIIINNT!!! These products actually rob the body of water. They are diuretics, which remove water from our system. Of course, alcohol falls under this category as well. Nothing can replace pure, clean, crisp, cool water for keeping our skin looking smooth and flush, our hair soft and shiny, our breath fresh, our eyes clear and our trips to the bathroom regular. So, you might be asking, what does this have to do with massage?

When a human being spends a lifetime of being dehydrated, the body starts to run ineffieciently. There could be a lot of common diseases that result from this but let us stick with an obvious one: PAIN. When muscles aren't properly hydrated, the tissue surrounded them can become sticky, like glue. Underneath, our skin can actually adhere to our muscles, reducing our flexability and ultimately causing severe discomfort. Muscles can also bond together! Our joints will no longer stay properly lubricated. The muscles and skin around them can 'tighten up', diminishing their mobility. Along with proper hydration, a good massage therapist can go in and help loosen these areas up, bringing fluid back to where it belongs. Massage can actually help reverse the process brought upon the body by years of improper hydration.

So even if you haven't booked an appointment with me yet, start drinking your water. A good recommendation is 1 ounce for every pound of body weight, divided by 2. So if you weigh 200 lbs, you need 100 ounces of water a day to stay properly hydrated. If you drink a lot of alcohol, coffee and soda, double it. I'm not kidding!