Reader’s Question:
I read that you’ve said that the #1 cause of constipation is dehydration. I am drinking a lot of water but find I am still dehydrated and I am constantly in the bathroom! What can I do? Thanks!
-Paula
First thing I would ask you is: “What is ‘a lot’ of water?”
Many of us unknowingly overestimate the amount of water we drink (and funny enough underestimate the amount of food!). I always recommend a baseline consumption of pure, properly filtered water of ½ a person’s body weight in ounces per day.
Again, this is a starting point. Often more water is necessary under individual conditions such as: exercise, temperature, amount of water from diet, if they are detoxing or trying to detox, if they are going through any kind of physical or emotional stress, etc. Next we have to look at the Adrenals because they are intimately related to the regulation of water levels in the body. The adrenal glands are also involved in the regulation of ADH, or anti-diuretic hormone, which is produced by the pituitary gland.
If your adrenals are not functioning properly, your requirement, utilization and retention of water will be off. I find there are many all too common causes of adrenal burn-out and fatigue know-a-days. So much so that almost everyone has some sort of issue with this. Our fast-paced, crazy, hectic lifestyles, constant states of stress and nutrient deficiencies, such as inadequate (REAL) vitamin C, are just some of the more common perpetrators.
And don’t forget…
Once the adrenals are burnt out, next in line is the thyroid! An adrenal issue ALWAYS precedes a thyroid issue. It’s just the way the body works.
Another thing we might want to consider is your blood sugar control. Fluctuating blood glucose (sugar) levels can lead to water imbalances in the body, particularly if you are Insulin Resistant. My guess is you have energy problems too. So we’d have to correct any blood sugar imbalances. It’s actually quite easy to do!
Lastly, we’d have to look at your current mineral levels.
Low levels of certain minerals, and electrolytes in particular like sodium, potassium and chloride can cause an inability to use and RETAIN the water you drink causing you to “pee all the time” because water just passes right out of you without being able to get plugged into your cells.
So your cells are basically starving for water, which then leaves you dehydrated and now you are able to enjoy all the unpleasant symptoms of that- such as constipation, headaches, high blood pressure, dry skin and eyes, poor skin quality, etc.
Whenever anyone has any of the above conditions, the first thing I do is look at something so simple, like the amount of water they are taking in every day. More often then not, it is not adequate…and wouldn’t it be great to just to be able to drink a little more water rather than pop an Advil, buy an expensive skin cream or be on a medication with all its side effects?
You see, my 3-Part Formula for being healthy, trim and vivacious is so simple!
We always just start with establishing the basics and go from there:
The Ripple Effect Diet 3-Part Formula
- Establish Proper Digestion and Detoxification
- Control Blood Sugar and Improve Energy Levels
- Balance Energy Out Exercise with Energy In Exercise
So Paula, as you can see it’s all connected:
Your hydration levels, hormonal function, blood sugar balance and nutrient levels are all related…but don’t worry, it’s often not as complicated to fix as you might think!
