In this episode I’m joined by Meaghan Jackson, Gentle Parenting Coach and host of Joyful Mud Puddles. We’re exploring the effect of hydration on our ability to stay focused in a digital world.
When I was planning for this episode, I was thinking about the impacts of stress on our immune system and our hormones. Stress absolutely affects our mood and our digestion but the basic functions of swallowing, digestive enzymes, bowel movements all require water! When these aren’t functioning properly we are easily distracted because something just doesn’t feel right on the inside.
A few key points from our conversation:
- Health Canada recommends about 2L or 8-cups of water per day for adults and .
- For me 10-12 cups is ideal. Any less and I have difficulty word finding and I feel incredibly tired. It’s a weird type of exhaustion – I just need to close my eyes.
- Meaghan and her boys keep cups around the house to have visual reminders and make it easy
- Not everyone likes the taste of water, and rightly so – some municipalities have gross tasting water. My niece loves cucumber blueberry! Meaghan really enjoys herbal infusions like hibiscus flower.
- Caffeine is a stimulant to your central nervous system. When it reaches your brain, the most noticeable effect is feeling less tired but there are other side effects. If you’re craving those extra cups throughout the day ask yourself why and be aware that it can have effects on your body.
- We hear more often about the health benefits of fresh lemon in hot water. It activates the metabolism and is good for the liver, as well as a daily dose of Vitamin C. If you love lemon in your water be aware that is also can also harm your teeth. Learn more from dentist Chris Lang »
Thanks again for joining us today. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are looking for more information or have a suggestion for an upcoming show. Send Meaghan or me a DM on Instagram.