Let’s start with a simple question…
What are the habits that will most support your health?
I think most of us have a good idea of where to start with this question. My basic list would include proper hydration, restful sleep, nutritious whole foods diet, belonging to a community, physical movement, and some form of contemplative and/or spiritual pursuit—mindfulness, meditation, contemplation, faith—whatever form that takes for you.
Most people want to have all of these habits as part of their regular life, but that can prove tricky. Over the next few newsletters I am going to go into detail about these habits because some aren’t as straightforward as they sound. Even if you are doing all of these already it is my hope you’ll still pick up some tips to help you fine-tune them or understand on a deeper level why they are important.
Let’s start with hydration. I know everyone is constantly being told how important it is to...drink more water!
Most articles have some kind of calculator based on your weight, activity level, etc.— usually coming up with something like 3 liters a day! Now, I’m about to tell you something you’ve likely not heard before.
You probably don’t need to drink more water. Seriously, put that water bottle down and take a minute to read my rationale.
Water should be only a portion of your hydration plan. Drinking pure water is actually not that hydrating, and drinking a lot of water is hard on your urinary system.
If you really want your body to absorb moisture on a cellular level it is better if it comes from your food.
The western diet tends to focus heavily on convenient foods that lack moisture. Most snack foods apply here. Drying cooking processes are also popular as they do develop flavor; baking, roasting, barbequing, frying etc…
While there is nothing wrong per se with methods of food prep that are drying, if most of your food is prepared this way it can create imbalances in your body. Such foods can be dehydrating on a deep level, as they require water from you to digest them in the first place.
Eating more “wet” food is one of the best ways to provide your body with more hydration.
Homemade soups, broths, and stews are all very good at doing this, as are porridges from grains you tolerate (porridge doesn’t have to be just for breakfast, and it pairs very well with savory flavors). Steamed vegetables are also great.
Eating wet food is an important way to hydrate as wet food moves through your digestive system much more slowly than a liquid. This allows for better absorption of fluids from your intestinal tract. In addition, the moisture from these foods is full of minerals, salts, nutrients etc… which are absorbed along with the water component and are more easily taken up by your cells.
If you can make at least one meal a day warm wet food, you are on your way to overall improved function of your body. Yes, the articles imploring people to drink more water are right that most people living in an industrialized society are dehydrated on some level, they just need to tweak the solution.
My go-to warm wet food is congee, which is essentially a traditional Chinese porridge made from rice, millet, oats, barley, corn or beans. It really is one of the best foods for health and is endlessly adaptable to suit the seasons.
If you are interested in giving this a try I’ve created a simple PDF recipe for all of my Vital Tips email subscribers. It includes three different methods for cooking rice or millet congee. If you'd like a copy just add your name to the email list and I'll get it sent over to you.
I hope you’ll try it and, if you like it, see if you can switch to a congee breakfast or lunch for 5 days and let me know how you feel!
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Disclaimer: Content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and readers are encouraged to review this information with their licensed healthcare professional prior to adopting any course of action that relates to their health. The content of this blog is not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent any specific medical condition and readers are encouraged to seek professional advice for health-related symptoms, concerns, and treatment plans. While Vital Spirit Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine LLC endeavors to provide quality source material as reference it is not responsible for errors or omissions within, or related to, the linked sources.
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