As we age, our bodies need more water. This thought is probably not new to you. Your doctor might have called your attention to this fact at your last visit.
A Healthline article reports the following:
- As people age, they need to drink more water to compensate for changes in their body temperature regulation.
- Dehydration can cause a number of ailments, including muscle pain, fatigue, and heat exhaustion.
- Urge older adults to drink water even when they aren’t thirsty and to limit beverages such as soda, coffee, and alcohol, which can cause dehydration.
When water is so clean and plentiful, and we know it’s good for us, why don’t we drink more? Can you hear yourself saying:
- I don’t remember to drink water
- It sends me to the bathroom
- I don’t want to have an accident
- I don’t like the way it tastes
- I’m not thirsty
- It’s boring
- I hate to pay for water, but I don’t trust tap water
- I like coffee
Let’s look closer at some of that thinking.
First, “I don’t remember” means it’s not a priority to you. You don’t see the value. But there are GOOD reasons to drink water on a regular, daily basis. A tip: keep a slip of paper and pen by your glass in an obvious place in the house; drink a glass, make a check, keep track.
Second, “I’m not thirsty” is probably accurate (if you’re not a regular water drinker). God created our bodies to compensate for many conditions – including water deprivation (traveling through the desert). After constantly being deprived, our bodies stop signaling us. Try this experiment: drink eight 8oz glasses of water every day for a week (yes, you will be in the bathroom more often, until your body adapts) and see if you aren’t more thirsty at the end of the week than at the beginning. This is a good thing!
Third, if you say, “I like coffee,” and drink it regularly, it can actually dehydrate you! Caffeinated beverages are a natural diuretic, meaning they take water out of your body rather than adding to your reservoir. Try to get use to the taste of decaf or switch to tea. If you don’t, you can compensate with more water during the day.
How about some tips for being more intentional about drinking water:
- Add flavor to your water (fruits, vegetables, herbs)
- Drink a glass before every meal
- Drink a glass after each bathroom break
- Put a reminder App on your smart phone
- Always keep a gallon of water handy
- Dilute juices and sugary drinks
- Choose sparkling water over soda (the flavored ones can be tasty!)
- Eat foods with a high water content (celery, lettuce, fruits)
- Drink warm decaffeinated beverages
- Sip a little at a time
As we look at how difficult it can be to discipline ourselves to drink water, we can make a spiritual application. God calls us to regularly drink deeply of the refreshing Word of God. It is easy to apply the same arguments to Bible reading as we had for drinking water: I’d rather read something else; it’s boring; it’s not really important to me; I just forget… The same truth applies: when we don’t read the Word regularly, our thirst for it evaporates. Likewise, the same tips can help: just do it, find a routine, set reminders, and sip a little at a time…above all, be intentional.
Here’s to your health! Drink your water. And read the Word of God, given to us by the One who calls Himself the “Water of Life.”
