Hydration!

Water comprises 75% of our bodies and 85% if our body, and as we age our bodies tend to dry out. The fluids in our bodies: blood, cerebrospinal fluid, lymph, saliva, urine, synovial fluid, extra-cellular fluid, tears, are all great evidence of the importance of or fluid intake. We should all take in at least one liter of water per day. I am sure you have all heard that staying hydrated is very important and vital to one's health, but I am just going to give some clear reasons as to why you need to drink water!!!
My high school track coach always explained it at "greasing your body" kind of like greasing hinges: they will work better and smoother. When your body absorbs the water you drink, it distributes it to different parts of your body in order to ensure full function. Sometimes, dehydration shows up in the form of a headache, or maybe feeling tired or hungry. When your body is not properly hydrated, it takes fluid from the synovial fluid around the joints leading to joint pain.
Here are some of the things water does for you:

• Regulates body temperature
• Prevents kidney stones
• Improves skin health
• Recovery from strength training
• Necessary for optimal digestion function
• Lubricates joints- ease joint pain
• Reduces blood pressure
• Improves bowl movement
• Altogether helps the prevention of many diseases and promotes healthy function of the body.

When and what you drink are also very important. Drinking filtered water instead of bottled, distilled water because water contains important minerals that are very healthy. You should try to drink about half an hour before meals, and then again about two hours after eating. Avoid drinking during during meals because it dilutes the digestive juices needed to break down your food. 

Something to keep in mind: drinking soda, coffee, and alcoholic beverages do not count as hydrating liquids, in fact caffeine and alcohol actually dehydrate you.

DRINK MORE WATER!!!!

~Iolani