Shelley A. Sonnenberg

One of the greatest things you can do to keep yourself healthy, lose weight and improve your memory is to drink enough water! Yet it’s one thing that many adults neglect.[1] I am sure most of my readers know that the human body can only survive for a few days without water[2], but what many of you do not realize is how much water you need to keep every part of your body running at peak performance.

In my recently published book, No Salads Required! How I Lost 159 Pounds WITHOUT Salads, Celery, Sit-Ups, or Surgery, and How YOU Can Too!  I quoted Don Colbert, MD, who recommends that everyone weigh themselves and divide the number of pounds they weigh by two and drink one ounce of water for every pound of half their weight. [3] For example, if you weigh 100 pounds you need to drink fifty ounces of water per day.   However, if you live in an area where the weather is hot or if you are doing a lot of exercise you can feel free to drink even more water than Dr. Colbert recommends. According the The   Complete Idiot’s Guide to Losing Weight, “It’s practically impossible to overdose on water.”[4]

It’s also important to understand that you need to drink the right amount of water whether you feel thirsty or not!  Doctor Colbert says: “As we age, our bodies signal for thirst tends to decrease, which may be the reason why some elderly people don’t drink as much water as they should. Their water reserves are typically lower, and their vulnerability to be more dehydrated tends to increase.” [5]

Fox News recently reported a story in the news about this very topic. Meatloaf, the famous rock singer and actor, who is 68, collapsed on stage due to “severe dehydration” during the end of his concert in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2016. The story went on to say that he was taken to the hospital and at the time the story was published was “responsive and recovering well”.[6]

You don’t have to be famous to suffer from dehydration either! A recent example of this problem recently arose in my family, when a senior citizen, who we love very much, was found unconscious on the floor in the middle of the night and ended up in the hospital.  She received excellent medical care from the hospital staff and after running every possible test on her to make sure her heart and other body organs were in good shape, her doctor concluded the reason she had fainted and fell on the floor was that she suffering from the same problem as Meatloaf. The irony was that she was attempting to fill a cup of water to give herself a drink when it happened!

I have talked to her since she came home from the hospital and she says that now she is drinking enough water every day she feels “much better”.  This should not be surprise considering that every part of the human body needs water to work properly.[7]

You will also be interested to know that proper hydration can help you reduce your weight.  Dr. Colbert says, “New research shows that being dehydrated may cause your body’s fat deposits to increase. Dehydration can contribute to an inefficient metabolism by affecting body temperature. When you are dehydrated your body temperature drops slightly and causes your body to store fat as a way to help raise or maintain your body temperature. Also, as some savvy dieters know, drinking water reduces your appetite by giving you a full feeling. “[8]

I made it a point to hydrate myself while I was losing 159 pounds in fourteen months and I think it really did help me. I should mention though that I did not lose weight by drinking water alone. I also ate healthy foods, exercised every day, and took nutrition products.

Water can also help you to improve your memory! Colbert states that new research shows that even humans with damaged brains can grow new brain cells, providing they keep their bodies properly hydrated. “Your brain loves water,” he writes. [9]

Of course, there is one challenge many people face when they first start drinking enough water. Colbert says “During the first few days of drinking more water than your body is accustomed to you are running to the bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it certain can interfere with an otherwise normal daily routine. Take heart; it’s really your body’s way of getting rid of excess water and toxins. You are flushing out your system.”[10]

To sum it up, that old legend about “The Fountain of Youth” really has something to it. Drink water faithfully every day and you will find yourself feeling healthier and better no matter how old you are!

SPECIAL NOTE: Those of you who want to purchase my book, No Salads Required! How I Lost 159 Pounds WITHOUT Salads, Celery, Sit-Ups, or Surgery and How YOU Can Too!  may order it from my website at www.howilost159pounds.com or from almost any bookstore. It is available in paperback, hardcover and e-book formats. Get your copy today!

[1] Don Colbert, MD. The Seven Pillars of Health. First Ed. Lake Mary, Florida:Siloam,2007,6

[2] Susan McQuillan, M.S., R.D. and Edward Saltman, M.D. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Losing Weight, New York, New York: Macmillan,1998, 132

[3] Colbert, MD. The Seven Pillars of Health,31

[4] McQuillan.The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Losing Weight, 133

[5] McQuillan. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Losing Weight, 133

[6] www.foxnews.com Accessed 6/17/2016

[7] McQuillan. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Losing Weight, 132

[8] Colbert. The Seven Pillars of Health, 12-13

[9] Colbert. The Seven Pillars of Health, 13

[10] Colbert. The Seven Pillars of Health, 13