We all have heard that we should drink at least 8 glasses of water (~64 oz.) daily to thrive, but have you ever wondered why?  In a nutshell, each of our 45 trillion+ cells needs H2O to transport oxygen and nutrients in while flushing toxins and impurities out.  Without enough water, our bodies are more prone to bone fractures, and infections.  Adequate hydration allows organs to function well, regulates body temperature, helps muscles to contract and relax, boosts concentration levels, and promotes performance and general well-being.

But, alas, not all water is created equal.

Recently the Environmental Working Group found 316 different chemicals in common tap water throughout the U.S., and unfortunately commercial bottled water isn’t much better. EWG tests also revealed that the top ten brands of bottled water contained 38 pollutants including trace amounts of arsenic, fertilizers, heavy metals, industrial solvents, and pharmaceutical drugs. Further, studies by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences showed that most plastic water bottles themselves contain BPA (bisphenol A), a chemical that can leach into the water and act like estrogen in our bodies. BPA is widely recognized now as toxic to reproductive health, especially in children.

Yikes!

So, how does a dancer stay properly -and safely- hydrated? 

1. Filter your water.  Remember those 316 chemicals?  If you don’t live at the foot of the Alps drinking pristine H2O directly from rocky mountain brooks, your tap water likely contains some of them too.  The best filtration systems remove chlorine as well as metals, and other toxins. 

2. Purchase a good stainless steel or glass/silicone sleeve-protected bottle and carry your own supply of home-filtered liquid gold everywhere. 

3. Drink your first 24 ounces each morning as soon as you get out of bed. Make it room temperature, and add a squeeze of fresh lemon to ramp up your metabolism.  

4. Ditch all bottled sports drinks. All of them.  Loaded with synthetic additives and junk, they are just hype, and costly to your budget and health. Want electrolytes?  Try nature’s answer:  drink organic coconut water!

5. Switch out your table salt at home to Celtic Sea Salt, or Himalayan pink salt.  Both have full mineral profiles (not just sodium) helping your cells hold onto and process water more efficiently.

A well-hydrated body is a healthy, high-functioning one that gets sick and injured less than others.  Be a health warrior:  filter, carry a safe bottle, and drink up!