Water for Wellness: Happy National Wellness Awareness Month!
August is National Wellness Awareness Month! It is a time to focus on promoting overall health and well-being, encouraging individuals to prioritize their health through sustainable habits and self-care. This annual observance serves as a reminder to evaluate daily habits, adopt sustainable lifestyle practices, and explore new ways to enhance physical, mental, and emotional health. It’s a perfect opportunity to reset, refocus, and recommit to your wellness goals.
The concept of National Wellness Month emerged in 2018 as part of an effort to shift the wellness conversation from a luxury topic to a lifestyle one. One of the most foundational and attainable changes a person can make is increasing their intake of clean, healthy water. Wellness through water is a reachable step towards better health.
Water is a vital cornerstone of good health. It plays a key role in many of our body’s functions, including bringing nutrients to cells, getting rid of wastes, protecting joints and organs, and maintaining body temperature. Consuming fresh, clean water is a critical part of promoting wellness throughout your body. Quite simply, we cannot function without it.
The optimal amount of water intake varies for each individual. Factors like activity level, climate, and overall health can influence how much water a person needs daily. Recommendations vary greatly from the often-cited 64 ounces up to a hefty 15 cups (120 ounces) of water consumed per person per day. For some, 64 ounces might be sufficient, while others may need more. However, despite its importance, many people don’t consume enough water on a daily basis. Factors such as busy schedules, lack of awareness, or even simply not feeling thirsty can lead to chronic underconsumption.
Under consumption of water can lead to alarming side effects, including low energy, mental fog, increased risk of stroke, moodiness, slower metabolism, headaches, and more. Dehydration can happen quickly, but can also compound over time through continued underconsumption of water. The great news is that dehydration is easy to prevent and correct. Simply consume enough water to rectify any negative effects. Drinking water throughout the day, even when you’re not feeling particularly thirsty, helps maintain proper hydration levels and supports all of your body’s systems in working more efficiently. But equally important to how much water you consume is the quality of that water.
It is imperative to look at the quality of water you consume when you increase your intake. Whether your water comes from a municipal water system, community well, private well on your property, or somewhere else, contaminants (including lead, pesticides, microplastics, and more) are present in most water systems. Over time, these impurities can contribute to health issues, such as digestive problems, skin irritation, and even more serious diseases like cancer or neurological damage.
The best way to ensure safe, clean drinking water that will not introduce additional toxins and contaminants into your body is to utilize a whole-home water filtration system. Water filtration systems allow clean, mineral and contaminant-free water to run through your home faucets, making it easier to stay hydrated and healthy.
Clean, accessible water encourages better hydration habits by making it more convenient and appealing to drink water regularly. It’s a practical upgrade that aligns perfectly with the goals of National Wellness Month, empowering individuals to take control of their health in simple, sustainable ways.
To begin your journey to healthier you, analyze the health of your water with a FREE water test from Water Unlimited. Request a free water analysis HERE.