The saying goes that salt water is the cure for absolutely everything: sea, sweat or tears.
But salt aside, it's pure, rejuvenating water thats the real healer. It's the cleanser from clouds, the food for summer blossoms. My family and I used it as a pain reliever to flush out the symptoms of chemo, and I still swear by it for keeping my skin clear. Water lubricates organs and muscles, can help you sleep better and lose weight, and helps muscle tissue function better.
Water is, by all means, a cure-all.
My brothers and I were raised beside water on a lake in the Pacific Northwest, and I now find it hard to be so removed from it all here in NYC. From dawn to dusk that expansive open water brought our family together. A day of chores was washed away by a dive into the lake. It was something sacred. It kept us together. To this day, nothing feels as baptismal as jumping in that cold water in the heat of the late afternoon.
Here, at the juncture of two seasons, we again see water go to work. Summer has begun to turn to fall, and we'll be experiencing an abundance of water soon. The rain will return, the earth with become heavy and wet, the summer crops will make way for heavier vegetables on our tables. It's all happening. As much as we hate to prepare for the end of summer, the water is here to carry us in.
Last fall on my website HerAfter, we changed to gold with the color of the leaves, let our lives ripen with the changing trees. This season, let us bask in the water. Let us be fluid as we move on and let us flow forward like the river, not grasping on as we go, but steadily moving forward. Let us be crystal clear in our intention and word. Let us be transparent. Let us let go. Let us overflow. Let us be like water.
To me, water is in and of itself, something to cherish. It's a much more interesting subject matter than you might think...
Did you know:
- You are made of water.
"According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%" via USGS website.
- Artisanal water is 'tres chic'! According to Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don't Get Fat, many offices in France equip each desk with a water bottle every morning. Sipping on water is a secret trick of french women to stay fit and healthy, and preferences of high quality water (her favorite is Volvic, mine is Fiji) is highly individual.
- According to The Mayo Clinic, your body needs a surprising amount of water every day.
"The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day."
via Mayo Clinic Website.
- Health magazine calls water the best 'beauty elixir' on the planet.
"I also believe that drinking tons of water and flushing out your system is crucial for training. It really helped me drop the weight. I tell myself that water is my medicine and that to stay well, I have to drink a gallon of it every day."
-Ciara, SHAPE magazine, PopSugar via SHAPE Magazine
How to get more water:
- Soak in an epsom salt bath; I like Lavender scented salts. It will ease muscles and reduce stress in as little as 15 minutes.
- Buy a few Voss water bottles, and add fruit for flavor. Instagram has a plethora of water recipes out there.
via HerAfter Instagram