Hydration Is About More Than Water

It's Summer, and many of us naturally start drinking more water. In fact, one thing I often hear is:

"Diane, it is so much easier to drink water in the summer than in the winter!"

And yet, I also hear:

• My energy is still low.
• I still get headaches.
• My brain still feels foggy.
• I seem more constipated.
• I get muscle cramps.
• My bladder seems to be telling me I am not drinking enough.
• My low back feels achy—and I suddenly realize I have hardly had any water today.

Of course, these symptoms can have many causes. But sometimes, they can also be gentle reminders from our body that we may need to pay a little more attention to hydration.

Last summer, I wrote a blog about practical hydration tips—how much water we may need, what counts as water, and ways to make drinking water easier and more enjoyable. If you have not read it yet, I encourage you to do so: Hydration Tips for Energy, Balance & Wellness.

You can also find a downloadable water calculator in the Resources section of my website to help estimate your daily water needs: Daily Water Guide & Formula.

This year, I would like to explore a different question:

Is water always the whole picture?

Water Is Still the Foundation

For me, water remains the foundation.

But what we need to understand is that when the weather becomes warmer and we perspire more, we lose more than simply water.

We also lose important minerals and electrolytes.

How much we lose will vary according to:

• the heat
• our activity level
• how much we perspire
• and simply our own individual body

Minerals play many important roles in our body. A good way to think about electrolytes is that certain minerals—such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—help carry electrical signals throughout the body.

These signals are involved in fluid balance, muscle function, nerve communication, and energy production. Without them, our body simply would not function properly.

This is one reason why some people can drink more water in the summer—and yet still not feel quite as well as they would expect.

Our Health Is Not Static

One of the biggest teachings I have learned over the years is this:

Our health is not static.

And because our health is not static, our body's needs are not static either.

Even for the very same person:

• July may look very different from January.
• A quiet day at a desk may look different from a day gardening outside.
• Travelling may look different from being at home in our routine.
• One season of life may require different support than another.

Sometimes our body simply needs different support than it did five years ago—or even five months ago.

Health becomes much less confusing when we stop looking for one perfect answer and instead begin asking:

What does my body need today?

Sometimes the answer is simply more plain water. Sometimes we crave fresh lemon or lime water. Sometimes herbal teas feel comforting. And sometimes we may appreciate additional nutritional support.

I have also come to realize that variety has value.

It helps prevent boredom.
It helps us remain consistent.
And it allows us to respond to our body's changing preferences and needs.

As long as we keep sipping. (Wink.)

My Long Love Affair With Chlorophyll Water

As many of you know, I am a big fan of chlorophyll water—both the convenient individual packets and the liquid chlorophyll.

For about 34 years, it has been part of my everyday routine. I often refer to it as "Liquid Sunshine."

It is refreshing, it supports hydration, and over the years it has become one of my favourite habits. Interestingly, I did not love the taste at first. It took me a few weeks to get used to it.

Now, I actually miss it when I do not have it. And many clients tell me exactly the same thing.

One of my favourite little rituals is using a wine decanter filled with very dark chlorophyll water. It sits on my counter or desk and reminds me to drink throughout the day.

It is pretty. It feels special. And somehow it makes drinking water more enjoyable.

There are several reasons why I love chlorophyll water:

• First, it helps me drink more water consistently.
• Second, it provides additional plant-based nutritional support. Depending on the source and formulation, chlorophyll may also provide small amounts of naturally occurring minerals and plant compounds. One of the reasons I have always loved herbs and plant-based nutrition is that nature rarely delivers things in isolation. Plants often provide a variety of compounds and nutrients working together.
• Third, it simply makes hydration more enjoyable.

One of the fascinating things about chlorophyll is that its molecular structure resembles that of hemoglobin—the oxygen-carrying molecule found in our blood. Although they are not identical, they share remarkably similar structures, differing mainly in their central atom: magnesium in chlorophyll and iron in hemoglobin. I simply find that remarkable!

The Habit That Stays

What always makes me smile is when I see clients again after several years.

Life happened. Work became busier. They were helping aging parents, supporting children or grandchildren, travelling more—or perhaps health simply was not the priority for a period of time.

And often they will say:

"Diane, I have not done everything. In fact, I have fallen off the wagon quite a bit. But I still drink my chlorophyll water. I still have my jar on my desk or on the kitchen counter."

And I always tell them:

Please—no guilt. You kept your chlorophyll water. That is huge. Wonderful. Check mark for that piece of the BODiWELL puzzle.

Imagine. You may not have kept every habit. But you kept this one—not only for three or five years, but for almost eight years now. Wow!

Your skin, your colon, your bladder, your kidneys, your brain—so many parts of your body—have likely benefited from that consistency. And that makes a big difference. And they say thank you to you.

I genuinely feel like a proud maman when I hear this.

We often underestimate the power of keeping a few simple habits over many years. I know the long-term benefits these simple habits can bring over 5, 10, or even 15 years. And by keeping that one habit, I know they can keep another one. (Wink.)

Health is not about doing everything perfectly. Doing a few important things consistently is often much more powerful than doing everything perfectly for a short period of time.

Every habit, no matter how small it may seem, often continues supporting us more than we realize.

And sometimes our body may appreciate a little more support.

Why I Am Excited About Solstic Nutrition

As many of you know, Solstic Nutrition is back—and I am very excited about it.

What I personally appreciate about Solstic Nutrition is that it offers several benefits. To name a few:

• hydration support
• light electrolyte replenishment
• 15 important vitamins and minerals
• additional nutritional support
• convenient single-serving packets
• a great-tasting tropical fruit flavour

For me personally, it is not about replacing water. Water remains the foundation. Rather, I see it as another tool that can support us during periods when our body's needs may be different—for example, warmer weather, increased perspiration, travelling, busier periods of life, or times when our nutrition may not be quite as good as usual.

Having another easy option available can help us remain more consistent.

Again, this goes back to one of my favourite teachings: support our body where it is today.

Personally, I like to start and end my day with plain water—often with a fresh squeeze of lemon or lime. For the rest of the day, chlorophyll water is my favourite. Personally, I find it helps me feel energized and focused.

And as needed, I enjoy having Solstic Nutrition as another option that provides both hydration and nutritional support.

Hydration Is One of the Foundations of Health

Hydration is also one of the pieces of my BODiWELL puzzle. I truly believe we cannot ignore hydration if we want to be healthy. It is part of the foundation.

I often use the example of Niagara Falls. Living near Toronto, we are very aware of the importance of Niagara Falls and hydroelectric power.

In many ways, our body is similar. Without proper hydration, our body cannot produce energy as efficiently, and our nervous system cannot function optimally.

In many ways, water helps power so many processes within our body. It helps everything work better.

Perhaps hydration is not about finding the perfect drink.

Perhaps it is about creating a rhythm that allows us to respond to our body's changing needs.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes our body simply needs more water.
Sometimes it needs more consistency.
Sometimes it appreciates more variety.
And sometimes, simply maintaining a few good habits over many years is already a tremendous success.

And sometimes what supported us last year may not be exactly what we need this year.

Because remember:

Our health is not static.
Our body's needs are not static.

Learning to adjust and support those changing needs is part of listening to our body.

And perhaps one of the most important summer reminders is simply this:

Keep sipping. (Wink.)