Health is an Attitude

Hydrate,
Hydrate,
Hydrate

When it comes to controlling diabetes,
water is one of the
most essential parts
of your diet.

Health is an Attitude

Hydrate,
Hydrate,
Hydrate

When it comes to controlling diabetes,
water is one of the
most essential parts
of your diet.

WATER: a powerful diabetes strategy

When it comes to controlling diabetes, water may just be one of the most essential parts of your diet.

There is no function of the human body that doesn’t rely on water. We actually ARE mostly water – approximately 70% water to be more exact.

Our survival depends on keeping this water percentage absolutely stable and balanced: the fluids you lose must be fully replaced by the fluids you drink.

Even the smallest amount of decrease in your normal water mass causes dehydration, a fluid shortfall that may tip your body’s balance from health to illness.

Water, the diabetes fighter

When it comes to managing diabetes, drinking enough water may make the difference between being in control and out of control. That’s because excellent hydration provides you with powerful benefits that can help stabilize the three markers for good diabetes control: blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.

Water to help lower blood sugar
Hydration is essential to keeping your blood glucose balance. Each day, your kidneys filter and clean about 200 quarts of blood, eliminating waste and extra glucose through urine. Good hydration provides the fluids your kidneys need to help them filter and urinate your excess sugars out.

Water to help lower blood pressure
Dehydration reduces the amount of liquid in your blood, thickening blood consistency and and causing your small blood vessels (capillaries) to constrict. The increased force of blood flow against your narrowed vessels can lead to high blood pressure, or hypertension.  Good hydration helps restore your blood liquids so that blood circulates normally to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your organs without additional stress to your heart.

Water to help lower cholesterol
High cholesterol is your body’s response to dehydration. When cells are starved for water, they produce more fatty wax-like cholesterol to patch up cells in order to help prevent more water loss. Good hydration may help to lower your cholesterol risk by keeping your cells moist and eliminating the need for extra cholesterol deposits.

The good hydration color test 

How do you know if you’re drinking enough? Check the color of your urine: if it’s pale yellow in color, like lemonade, you’re drinking enough. If your urine is bright yellow or dark, you’re likely dehydrated. A word of caution: If you are among those who drink too much water, your urine will be also be very pale, and you may run the risk of hyponitrimia, a condition which can be quite dangerous.

When you exercise or sweat heavily, follow the example of athletes by also replenishing electrolytes (sodium and minerals) in drink or powder form, with the least amount of sugar content you can find.

Drink plenty of fluids during COVID-19

During the fragile times of COVID-19, defend your health by drinking more fluids. Good hydration (and good nutrition) can keep your immune system functioning at optimal levels.

If you’re actually going through Covid-19, be aware that fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms will drain your system of the fluids your body urgently needs to help battle the virus. During any illness, be sure to replenish your extra fluid loss by drinking water or electrolyte drinks more frequently – even if you don’t feel like it.

The water habit

So important is water to your health, that it deserves to have its own habit: the water habit.  This one routine can improve your body’s functions and keep your vital organs operating at optimal levels.

Your mental health also depends quite a bit on good hydration. Your brain consumes about 20% of your body’s blood and oxygen. The well-hydrated brain helps you stay alert, aids your focus and memory, and improves your mood while helping to reduce stress.

In considering any nutrition plan, don’t just focus on calories and serving sizes or carbohydrates and fats. Remember to incorporate the most important nutrient of all – water – and to use it as a deliberate strategy to help you achieve your optimal health.

 

Eat More Water

About 20% of your hydration comes from the foods you eat such as soup, yogurt, fish, eggs and grains such as oatmeal and barley.

But the highest water content foods are fruits and vegetables.  Watermelon, lettuce, cucumber and cauliflower each contain more than 90% water!

The hydration in fruits and vegetables is as important to your diet as the valuable nutrition they provide.  Take a look at some examples of 90%+ high water fruits and vegetables:

90% + FRUITS

Watermelon 91%
Cantaloupe 90%
Grapefruit 90%
Starfruit 91%
Strawberries 90%

90% + VEGETABLES

Lettuce 95%
Celery 95%
Radishes 95%
Tomatoes 94%
Cucumbers 96%

The high water content of fruits and vegetables is a great advantage for weight loss. Because they are mostly water, fruits and vegetables have fewer calories and make you feel full more quickly. Half a grapefruit, for example, is only 37 calories.

HYDRATION PLUS

Teas provide unique protective benefits in addition to hydration. COVID-19 has put an urgent focus on the need to boost our body’s defense systems. Green tea, for example, provides powerful immune support. Currently, promising studies indicate that the compounds in green tea may be able to slow the COVID-19 virus down.

Green tea provides you with an array of powerful protective benefits that include helping with blood sugar control and improving cholesterol levels.