Current Mental Health Stats

Nearly 1 in 5 American adults suffer from a form of mental illness. Suicide rates are at an all-time high, 115 people die daily from opioid abuse, 1 in 8 Americans over 12 years old take an antidepressant. And, if you have diabetes research shows you are at an even higher risk of anxiety and depression compared to the general American population.

What we fuel our body with plays a direct role in how we behave and feel.

I am very passionate about food and mood, especially for our children today. Our health is a factor of making better individual choices, but it is also a group, community effort. I will speak more to this in the emails to come. Until then, grab a tall glass of water and enjoy.

Hydration for Better Behavior & Blood Sugar Control

1. Drinking plain, filtered water before drinking anything else (hello sweetened and creamed coffee) can set-up your palate for the day. Drinking sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks can create cravings and the desire for treats throughout the day. Also, the more plain, filtered water you drink, the more of the plain water you will want. If you don’t like plain water, start small and build up the amount you drink without added flavors or chemicals.

2. Dehydration has been associated with increased fatigue, anger, and confusion as well as mood problems and decreased health. You need to be well hydrated for your cells to work properly.

3. Dehydration prevents serotonin production and low serotonin increases the desire to eat more and it makes someone more impulsive, including more impulsive with processed foods.

4. Hydration can improve blood sugar control as discussed in my video on water.

5. Drinking 2 cups of water before (30 minutes) each meal can support weight loss as the body has to burn calories to process the water, as well, thirst is often mistaken for hunger.

6. Drinking adequate water helps plump up skin cells, which minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

7. Water supports detoxification and helps flush toxins and impurities out of the body. On this note, I question how good it is to drink sparkling water out of a can. It’s hasn’t stopped me entirely, but I buy La Croix and the likes a lot less and resort to S. Pellegrino in large glass bottles more (I love me a sale at Costco).

8. Hydration supports digestion and nutrient absorption. We are what we absorb, not what we eat.

9. Drinking enough water can improve circulation which is very important for diabetes, blood pressure, and heart health.

10. Proper hydration is crucial for the brain and memory.

 If you desire a sparkling beverage, opt for sparkling mineral waters like San Pellegrino in a glass bottle because it contains naturally occurring minerals that are beneficial for your health.

How many of you just said to yourself, “Where is my water?”

See you next week where I am going to highlight why food dye use needs to die.

 

This is part of a 4-part series on “Personalized Nutrition.” Be sure to click through all the topics on this subject, which I’ve hyperlinked below.