Everyone these days is talking about getting enough water and if you get adjusted at Karrinyup Wellness Centre you will know the doctors are always talking about it as well, especially after your adjustment. But do you know the importance behind it and why?
The body is composed of 70% water. When the water percentage is lowered it can affect the body in many various ways. This may include affecting mental function or physical function or even both. Examples of symptoms you may get as a result include; headaches, dizziness, fatigue, poor digestion and poor skin health just to name a few.
Apart from these things your chiropractor is also telling you to drink water after an adjustment for a few more reasons. Drinking water after your adjustment will help flush any toxins (for example lactic acid) away, help minimise side effects as well as help to nourish the discs, tissues and ligaments, keeping the spine healthy and flexible.
So what water should you be drinking? We recommend filtered water to reduce chlorine, chemicals, bad taste and odours. Reverse osmosis is a good option to filter the water and they come with remineralises to add back minerals. How much water should I be drinking? Per day for women this amount should be about 2 litres or 8 cups and for men about 2.6 litres or 10 cups. For children, the amount will vary depending on age and you can speak to your health professional about this amount. Pregnant or breastfeeding women may also need more and this may be another question for your health practitioner. Other factors that may affect this amount include exercise and temperature.
If you struggle or find it hard to consume this much water in a day you aren’t alone. Some tips and tricks to try and squeeze in that extra water can include adding fruit to water to flavour it, keeping the bottle handy by you during the day and even downloading a phone app that may help track your water intake for you.
So, after your next adjustment, when you hear your chiropractor say “Go for a walk and drink lots of water!” be sure to drink your recommended daily amount and help your body function as well as your treatment as effective as possible!
Dr Katie Hooper
Chiropractor
