Dr. Slava Shut

Ever looked up at the moon and wanted to go there?

When astronomers proudly proclaimed that they had found a potential source of water on the moon, it gave way to a new kind of speculation. People have walked on the moon for decades, but always had to come back home quickly. Even though the gravity on the moon is comfortable, a number of factors make it completely uninhabitable. 

Distance isn’t the biggest factor in keeping people off the moon permanently, although it is a major one. But despite the fact that the trip would be further than anywhere you’ve ever been, the main obstacle to life on the moon, in the Sahara, or anywhere else in the universe for that matter, is a lack of water.

Welcome to Topic Thursday, where we discuss something specific about business, health, or life in general. Today, we’re going to talk about how important water is to living a healthy, happy life.

Water Is Life

Water is the most basic foundation of life. Every living thing needs it to thrive. Thank G-d for water!

You need water not just to keep breathing, but to be healthy and comfortable. All of your major functions use water. Even sitting there, silently, doing nothing costs you water every time you breathe. Standing there, looking down at your phone and reading this article silently costs a little more. Standing there and talking on the phone costs you even more water.

Moving around costs even more, and those of you who are living an active lifestyle and get plenty of exercise need even more water on a daily basis. When you’re comfortable and indoors, it’s easy to forget when you had your last drink. But neglecting your hydration can have all kinds of side effects. If you go long enough without water, the effects could be disastrous.

Not Drinking Enough Water?

We all know water is important to survival. But sometimes it’s hard to conceptualize how important water is for everyday functioning. 

So which do you think is more flexible: a strip of jerky, or a strip of steaK? 

A piece of jerky will split and tear when bent; a piece of steak will easily yield to the pressure of a finger. Both contain water, but one has much less than the other.

Our skeletal muscles are responsible for moving our bodies around the environment. They rely on electrical signals from the brain to travel along our neural pathways and innervate the appropriate muscles.

Once a muscle is activated, it contracts, pulling the attached limb by tensing the muscle. You don’t even have to think about it, but as you’re reading this, the muscles in your eyes are delicately pulling your point of focus across this page for every word. You’re just a master at it!

This process happens every time you move. Not just your eyes; every piece of your body.

To do this successfully, your body needs energy from food and hydration from water. If you’re drinking the recommended 3-4 liters of water per day but still don’t have enough calories, you’ll eventually fail to fully contract the muscle.

If you don’t have enough water though, you might still successfully contract that same muscle, but you’re much more likely to suffer a painful cramp when dehydrated. A cramp, or a muscle’s failure to relax after a contraction, can be debilitating.

Internally, your organs don’t run as smoothly when deprived of water. Your skin will even become more brittle and less elastic. Your digestion will suffer, your blood pressure will increase, and your internal body temperature will become less stable.

All this from not drinking enough water!

Hydration For Soft Tissue Resilience

Adequately hydrating the body can play a major role in preventing certain injuries. Just as a piece of beef jerky would easily break when folded, dehydrated muscles are more prone to damage. And skeletal muscles aren’t the only things that are susceptible to damage through dehydration.

Your tendons, ligaments, fascia, and other connective tissues are also much more vulnerable to wear and damage when the body is dehydrated. A cramp is painful, but a rupture is far worse! 

Water makes up some 60% of your body mass on average, making it easily the most necessary component to your health and well-being. Full hydration is beneficial not only for your muscles and joints, but for your cognitive function as well.

Drowsiness, lethargy, and general malaise start to become a part of everyday existence when you don’t drink enough water. It can lead you to lose your motivation and have difficulty concentrating and staying focused. 

Are you suffering from a dehydration-related injury? Let’s talk about some strategies for getting you back to your healthiest, most resilient self. Contact my team to schedule a 1-on-1. The time is now!

#drslavashut #back2healthCEO #HydrationMatters #DrinkUp #DehydrationHurts #