By Angie Kassabie, Ph.D.
Water is one of the most organic and natural substances on the planet and is essential to good health, yet rarely do we think about how it can cleanse, heal, and transform our lives.
Just like water washes away dirt and impurities on the outside of our bodies, it also washes away toxins and impurities on the inside. When I being working with my clients, this is one of the first mental pictures I ask them to envision: that every glass of water they drink washes them clean from the inside out. In my opinion, if you drink at least two liters of pure, natural spring water every day, you'll soon see the difference in improved skin tone, weight loss, less cellulite, higher energy levels, and a stronger immune system.
In my practice, I hear the same complaints over and over. They include: the inability to lose weight, difficulty getting out of bed every morning, trouble sleeping, headaches, dry, rough skin, sickness, cellulite, indigestion and weight gain. Although increased water intake won't necessarily treat all of these issues, I do know that if you are dehydrated you can exhibit all of these health conditions and more. So one of the first things I ask my clients to do is increase their water intake.
It's my experience that if you suffer from one or more of these conditions, you may be able to improve the quality of your life simply by intaking two liters of water every day, Think about it: Our bodies are 75 percent water; if this level drops by just 2 percent then we become dehydrated. As soon as this happens, our bodies slow down and begin to operate less efficiently.
A lot of times the resistance to drinking more water is simply a bad habit. Like other "good" habits that take a few days to implement and get used to, It should take you only two or three days to get used to drinking more water. Preferably the water should be fresh and pure and served at room temperature. Flavored waters, coffee, tea, and fruit juices don't count.
Here are a few more tips: As soon as you get up, drink a glass of water to rehydrate your body from the night before. Double that amount if you've had alcohol the night before. Drink a glass of water before lunch and dinner to suppress your appetite and to help you stop drinking water with your food, which decreases the absorption of nutrients. Each time you feel hungry, have a glass of water. If, after 20 minutes, you are still feeling hungry, then eat a healthy snack. Ask your doctor of certified nutritionist if drinking more water will help you in your everyday diet and exercise program.
I also suggest buying a liter-sized glass bottle and filling it up with water first thing in the morning, so that you can monitor your water intake throughout the day. Keep it handy -- on your desk or in your bag -- and take it wherever you go. You'll find that in no time you're drinking more water than you used to.
Angie Kassabie, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed expert in nutrition, health and fitness, image consultation, and personalized diet programs. As a self-proclaimed "food pscyhologist," Dr. Kassabie specializes in emotional eating and the mind-body connection. She is at work on a book about nutrition and holistic health. To learn more about Dr. Kassabie, follow her on twitter at @angiekassabie.