Drink Up

Why water is essential for health.

BY PAULA MCCAMBRIDGE

ater has an alluring quality that draws us to it—we seek to build our homes near oceans and lakes; we stare at bodies of water in contemplation, swim in it, feel its warm cascade as we shower, and its cool, quenching nature when we drink.

Because more than half of our physical bodies are made of water, we must consume it daily and in plentiful supply to function at our best.

We sometimes obsess over the look of our body’s largest organ, skin. With a pinch, we check our hydration. Drinking water— or hydrating—can help keep that skin supple and help lips from chapping.

More than that, Mayo Clinic lists water’s ability to aid us in bodily temperature control, lubricate and cushion our joints, protect sensitive tissues, and rid the body of wastes through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements. Even mild dehydration saps the body of energy leaving us feeling tired. >>

“So, when all of this is happening [when we’re drinking water], we are happy; we have more energy, better skin, and just overall joy,” said Kitty Arosteguy, owner of The Spa Central Coast, a local business based on holistic health and healing. “So, do you want to feel and look amazing? Then do the least expensive thing and drink water.”

Arosteguy talked about the physical qualities of water and emphasized their connection to the spiritual when she quoted a poem by Tao Te Ching, which begins,

“The Supreme Goddess is like water

It benefits all things without contention. In dwellings it stays grounded. In being, it flows to depths.”

Amy Foster, massage therapist and owner of Atascadero’s Complete Escape, said, not only does she recommend drinking more water to her clients but also to her husband and two sons. “Any time anyone in my family has any type of ailment, I tell them to go drink more water,” she said. “Or I ask, ‘Have you had any water today?’ More water fixes so many issues.”

Other healing health practices like massage are most beneficial when followed by bringing more water into the body, Foster said. “During a massage your muscles are being manipulated causing toxins, and other waste materials to flow into the bloodstream,” she explained. “To help your liver and kidneys process and flush out these toxins, it is important to drink extra water to help along the process. It will help prevent soreness, sluggishness, and fatigue.”

But where is all this water we need to be drinking? Unless we find a local spring from which to fill our jars, water comes at a price. We buy it in individual bottles, fill five-gallon jugs for coolers, run it through filters, and take it straight from the tap.

The tap is certainly the most convenient, but is it safe?

Leslie Terry, supervising environmental health specialist with San Luis Obispo County government, talked about our local water supply, how it’s monitored for quality, and whether she drinks it herself.

“I can’t make recommendations on drinking our local water. I will share that I do drink tap water,” Terry said. “I live in a 100+-year-old house in downtown SLO, so at home, I use a pitcher with a filter because I’m not sure about the plumbing materials we have. When I’m out, I drink tap too—usually with lemon.”

So how does she know it’s safe?

According to Terry, there are two entities regulating drinking water in SLO County—the California State Water Control Board Division of Drinking Water and the Environmental Health Services Division of the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department.

That’s government-speak meaning that the state and county work together to protect public health and safety by ensuring safe drinking water. >>

The State of California regulates systems with 200 or more service connections while Environmental Health regulates everything else.

“Tap water is heavily regulated—systems providing water are regularly tested for bacteria and a long list of chemicals; they need to have a certified operator, and they undergo detailed inspections,” Terry said.

Then the same must be true of bottled water, right?

Terry said bottled water isn’t monitored in the same way local water supplies are. Instead, the bottled drink is regulated similarly to soda, as a product on store shelves. It’s still monitored for quality, but it’s verified less frequently than tap water.

“Personally, I avoid bottled water but not because of a concern about quality,” Terry said. “I try to watch packaging and disposable items, especially single-use plastics because I’m concerned about their impact on the planet . . . Like anything, consumers should make informed decisions about the products they support.”

Mayo advises that men drink about 124 ounces of water and that women drink 92 ounces for optimal health.

Whether we turn on a tap or screw the top off a bottle, the bottom line is, drinking more water is essential for good health. SLO LIFE