Are you drinking enough water?

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Drinking water does not come easy for everyone, even me. I keep a water bottle on my desk all day and I still find the need to 'make myself' drink it.

Water is the second most popular drink among Americans today, following soft drinks. Go figure! Drinking 8 glasses of water a day has been a guideline for Americans for years. New studies have shown that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is not based on any significant scientific evidence but rather serves as just that, a guideline.

Drinking water is essential to our health. Water is a nutrient. Our body needs that nutrient to replenish the large amounts of water our body uses and recycles each day. “Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD agrees: “Fluid losses occur continuously, from our skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health,” he says.” I couldn’t agree more… but that doesn’t make drinking water any easier for me.

The majority of fluid losses occur when the weather is oh so beautiful out (aka 'warm weather' in WI). In addition to warm weather, exercising, old age and high altitudes can also play a factor in fluid loss.

One of the main reasons I drink water more regularly is because I am enjoying it more. I can add a couple drops of YL Essential Oil to my water and wa-la, it has flavor, without the calories, sugars or cancer causing additives. Young Living offers a line of vitality essential oils that are great additions to your everyday routines.

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It can be easy to share a post on Facebook or Pinterest about the “top 10 reasons to drink lemon water” but the majority of those people don’t actually drink lemon water on a regular basis. If you are new to Young Living or just getting started on your path to living a Happy-Healthy-Life and feeling better, adding a glass of lemon water to your morning routine may be the perfect start to your journey.

Although most people think about Oranges, lemons are also a source of Vitamin-C, which is important for normal development. An orange can provide about 80-90 mg of Vitamin-C, whereas a single lemon can provide 30-40 mg of Vitamin-C. It’s not quite as Vitamin-C abundant as an orange, but when talking about adding to water, lemon is often the preferred flavor choice. Maybe you'll even enjoy a couple drops of YL Orange in your water as well!

So what are these benefits everyone talks about?

    1.       Maintain Body Fluid Balance: “Your body is composed of about 60% water.” We need to keep our body hydrated!

    2.       Calories are low: Water can help control your calories in one big way, being a substitute for those high calorie beverages. Lemon contains “about 29 calories per 100 grams”. I’ll take that anyday!

    3.       Detox: Being a natural antioxidant, lemon helps remove toxins from our body. This is a huge reason lemon water is so beneficial in the morning, when your body needs to flush out those toxins.

    4.       Digestion: Drinking warm lemon water can improve your digestion by lowering fat, reducing insulin resistance and helping prevent fatty liver. “This has to do with it’s ability to inhibit certain synthesis of fat in the body.”

    5.       Energy: Water in general helps to energize the muscles by decreasing their ability to “shrivel”, which can happen as a result of dehydration.

    6.       Healthy Skin: Our skin is made of an abundance of water because it acts as a ‘protective barrier’ for our body. The natural antioxidant in lemons is linked to anti-aging properties. Hydrating your body and skin won’t erase wrinkles over night, but it will surely aid in the process of naturally tightening the skin.

    7.       Alkaline vs. Acidic: Acids can build up in your body, causing negative side effects (upset stomach, acid reflux, acidosis, etc.) “If you’re new to the concept of alkalinity, it’s the process of neutralizing acid in the body.” Lemon water is a great way to keep the pH levels on target. “Achieving healthy alkalinity may benefit in bone health, reduced muscle wasting, improved memory and improved cardiovascular health”.

    8.       Kidney Support: Having a good water intake can have a positive effect on your kidneys. If you’re from my neck of the woods, you may like to enjoy a beer every now and then. Okay, maybe it’s considered a tradition in Wisconsin, but making sure you are consuming enough water can help carry waste products in and out of cells; through your kidney.

    9.       Appetite Suppressant/Weight Loss: Don’t quote me on the fact that you will lose weight by drinking lemon water alone. It's not that easy, nothing in life is. “Pectin and polyphenols are the main substances found in lemons that have more research available showing weight loss and appetite suppressing qualities.” Studies have shown that these two ingredients have shown an increase in fat metabolism as well as an increase in the ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL). It also shows a decrease in LDL (the bad cholesterol). Young Living essential oils and essential oils products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Just as some antibiotics work for some people and not for others, essential oils work different with each individual.

So, what’s your take on drinking more water, maybe even adding some lemon into that routine? 

I have a challenge for you!

Lemon Water Challenge:

    1.       Review the benefits of incorporating lemon water into your daily routine in my article 

    2.       Commit to 14 days of lemon water

    3.       Write down how you feel on day 1, then on day 14 -or everyday if you want

    5.       Let me know what you experienced

   Rules:

   *Let me know your start date

   Why? So I can keep track of entries & avoid cheating!

   *Complete Lemon Water Challenge steps 1-4

*Complete all 4 steps of this challenge and have your name entered into a drawing to win a free 15 ml bottle of Young Living Lemon essential oil! Drawing February 29^th. 

This could be yours, absolutely FREE!

Sources

Mark. "The Real Benefits of Lemon Water According to Science." Roots and Sprouts Science Based Health The Real Benefits of Lemon Water According to Science Comments. N.p., 02' Nov. 2014. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.

Zelman, Kathleen M., MPH, RD, LS. "Why Drink More Water? See 6 Health Benefits of Water." WebMD. WebMD, 08 May 2008. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.