The Elixir of Life

The who, what, why and when of Water.

Please drink water. Flowers are optional.

Whether you are staying home or going somewhere HOT this summer, you will likely need to make sure you're staying hydrated.

A quick and simple way to figure out how much water you need to drink to stay hydrated is to drink half your weight in pounds, converted to ounces. For example, if a person weighs 150 lbs, they would want to drink 75 oz of water, or 9.4 cups.

If you're tired of drinking "just water," what I like to call the elixir of life, you can create your own easy-peasy electrolyte mix with a pinch of salt, a squeeze of a lemon and a spoonful of honey (or maple sugar for the plant-based folks). It's really easy, and made of items you can find in many kitchens, gardens or shops.

A word to the wise: most of the folks who start working with me clinically are not drinking enough water. This is one of my first recommendations. It's easy and it doesn't cost much. There are many conditions that can stem from lack of proper hydration including dry skin, digestive upset, hormone imbalances, joint pain and reduced immune function. Save a visit to the herbalist and increase your water intake today!

Also! Please let me clarify an important common misunderstanding:

TEA IS NOT WATER

COFFEE IS NOT WATER

KOMBUCHA IS NOT WATER

SODA IS NOT WATER

In fact, drinking anything else except water, carbonated water or an electrolyte drink, is in fact dehydrating.

Yes, you read that correctly. If it's not crystal clear, it's not hydrating. Yes, even herbal tea is a gentle diuretic and will not increase hydration in each cell. Which means that for every cup of coffee/tea/soda etc that you drink, you will also want to drink an ADDITIONAL cup of water.

And, carbonated water isn't your best choice for overall wellness and hydration either. A little is ok, but try to stick to the good old-fashioned H20.

I know, I know. It means you will have to go pee more. There are worse things! Peeing is one of the ways that our bodies detoxify and let go of what we no longer need. Let. It. Go! Plus, taking breaks is good for our bodies and minds. It lets us move a bit, and turns on diffuse thinking which is where we get a LOT of good ideas from!

Have I convinced you yet to get up and take a sip (or glug) of water? Go on, enjoy the elixir of life!

After all, it's what makes life on Earth possible!

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A large water droplet balances on a dewy green leaf.