Horseman’s Health

July 2021 – Holistic Horsekeeping.com

Horseman’s Health: The Importance of Hydration

by guest contributor Barb Swanson

Dr. Ward offering her mule some water!

We Know We Need It…
For years, people have heard they need to get enough water. It is an accepted fact that 64 ounces, or 1/2 gallon, daily, is a good amount for most people. A lot of people are now drinking bottled water in record-setting quantities. So why are 75 million of us still dehydrated?

Some say they simply can’t handle drinking that much water a day. They simply had to urinate too much, this can be true. Most workplaces frown on being in the restroom more than a couple of times a day or even at breaks only. Even when you do drink your 1/2 a gallon a day, you could still be dehydrated. Turns out, many dietary and lifestyle factors (examples include processed foods and heated homes) can interfere with water absorption.

I’d learned from my own experiments that using unsweetened green or white teas, or herbal teas, seemed to offer the benefit of less bathroom trips. I theorized that the minerals and nutrients in those teas would actually make the water better for your cells. Now, science is proving this is true. In fact, studies are showing that adding raw fruits and vegetables to your diet can be a superior way to get effective cellular hydration.

What is Gel Water?
Most water is H2O — or so we thought.

Groundbreaking research from Harvard and Cornell has found that the water in our cells and in plant cells is actually H3O2. It’s gel-like water that’s been charged by electrolytes. This gel water acts as fuel “for every action of every cell,” notes Gerald Pollack, PhD, head of the University of Washington’s Pollack Water Lab.

The science is complicated, but it boils down to this: Minerals help to structure water so it is more bio-available for your cells. Water in our cells is crucial for metabolism and countless other functions. Gel water in particular, primes our cells to function optimally.

Eat Your Water!
European research shows that consuming plants rich in gel water — including most raw fruit and ­veggies — “is up to twice as hydrating as drinking water,” says Dr. Dana Cohen. Gel water from plants passes more readily into our cells — and it’s denser and less likely to leak out of damaged or aging cells.

Tips to Get Your Gel On

  • Eat six servings of gel-water-rich foods–i.e., raw fruits and veggies–daily.
  • Add an extra serving for every dehydrating grain-based or meat-based food you eat.
  • Avoid processed foods, which siphon off fluid during digestion.
  • There’s evidence that ghee and clarified butter are extremely high in gel water.
  • Eat healthy fat. “Water enters cells through an oil-guarded membrane,” Cohen says. “Good fats, especially omega-3s, keep membranes supple, increasing absorption.”

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, let me know by leaving a comment below. You can also find me on Facebook where I always appreciate a LIKE. To order any of the products mentioned in this post or other  products for you or your horses, please visit my online store.

Sources:
http://www.sharecare.com/health/energy-boosters/which-foods-boost-energy#cmpid=SCNL000
http://www.livestrong.com/article/361455-foods-that-cause-fatigue/
http://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/articles/tiredness.html

This entry was posted in Uncategorized on by .

About Madalyn Ward, DVM

This blog provides information based on my unique take on horse health and well being. The articles are based on experience of treating and working with horses for over 40 years. In most cases the articles are focused on an holistic approach to health and management. When conventional medicine offers good research or therapy, I share this information as well. Madalyn Ward, DVM