November was originally designated as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to help raise general awareness of the disease. It was also a call to action to get people involved in the recognition of the condition.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over the years. Memory loss is mild in the early stages, but worsens as the disease progresses. In late-stage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment, often not recognizing loved ones. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others. Survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions. Therefore, it is important to take steps to keep your brain healthy!
What is one step you can take to maintain a healthy brain? Drinking an adequate amount of water is critical to optimized energy levels and clear thinking. Do you know that the body is composed of approximately 60% water with about 73 % of that in our brain and heart? Water is a vital nutrient for life and even referred to as "lifeblood" in ancient cultures. Proper hydration is needed for cellular homeostasis.
The amount of water required for every body differs from person to person. A good rule of thumb is to drink one-half your body weight in ounces of water each day. For example: If you weigh 150 pounds, you should aim to drink a minimum of 75 ounce of pure, clean water daily. Avoid drinking out of plastic bottles as the toxins leech into the water and absorb into your cells. I filter my water in my Berkey filter system which can be found at getberkey.com/#outback to ensure I am drinking pure, clean water. I also measure my water every morning in a stainless steel or glass bottle to ensure I achieve my minimum water intake daily.
If you are not a fan of drinking water, try adding a pinch of sea salt, a little lemon juice or other fruit to give your water a little flavor. You might even add cucumbers for a nice refreshing drink! If you do not already drink a sufficient amount of water to stay hydrated, drink an additional 8 ounces each day until you reach your goal water intake and be sure to spread it out over the entire day. Stop drinking 3 hours prior to bedtime so that you don't have to get up in the night.
Cheers to staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy brain!
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