If you've had a Reiki with me, you've heard me say "Drink plenty of water for the next 3 days to flush out your system!" After a Reiki session your body will begin to detoxify. To help the detoxification process, Reiki teachers recommend you drink lots of water following your treatment and over the next few days. In addition to water's benefits after an energy session, it's winter, and hydration is as important now as it is in the summer. As the temperatures outside gradually drop, we find ourselves near heaters, covered in layers of clothing. The artificial "hot" environments we create can cause dehydration. Drinking eight glasses of water a day helps our body maintain its fluid balance.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information says that water is:
"undoubtedly the most important nutrient and the only one whose absence will be lethal within days, understanding of water measurement and requirements are very important. The effects of water on daily performance and short and long-term health are quite clear. There are few negative effects of water intake and the evidence of positive effects is quite clear from the literature."
Despite all of the good it does, some of you have told me you don't like water or are a little bit sick of drinking plain water.
That's ok, there's nothing wrong with adding a little bit of flavor to your glass of hydration. Try some low calorie additions to your H2O:
- Mint
- Cucumbers
- Fruit (like berries, watermelon chunks, or orange slices)
All are super high in antioxidants and might encourage you to drink a little bit more! Women's Health Magazine suggests that:
"you can technically hydrate with water-rich foods like cucumbers, melons, celery or even soup with a light broth."
For some more great ideas, check out the About.com article Boring Water Be Gone.