WOMEN ARE THE CENTER OF THEIR HOME(PART 3)

Today we are continuing to bring you more information, that will help with your daily life at home.  In Part 1, another area of importance that was mentioned, was Are you drinking enough water?  For many years medical doctors gave us a guideline of drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, but now a days though water is important, one can still gain water from some drinks as well as certain foods that have a high-water content like watermelon.  There are plenty reasons why we need water in our diet, and in this article, we will discuss some of the important ones that are essential to your health.

“Think of water as a nutrient that your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and some foods.  All of these are essential daily to replace the large amount of water lost each “, says Joan Koelemay, RD, dietitian for the Beverage Institute, and industry group. Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, agrees: “Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health”, he says.   When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated.  Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as sharp.  

Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids:   Your body is composed of about 60% water.  The function of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.   “Through the posterior pituitary gland, your brain communicates with your kidneys and tells it how much water to excrete as urine or hold onto for reserves”, says Guest, who is also an adjunct professor of medicine at Stanford University.   When you’re low on fluids, the brain triggers the body’s thirst mechanism.  And unless you are taking medications that make you thirsty, you should listen to those clues and get yourself a drink of water, juice, milk, coffee, anything but alcohol.   “Alcohol interferes with the brain and kidney communication and causes excess excretion of fluids which can lead to dehydration”, he says.   

Water Can Help Control Calories:  For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy.  While water doesn’t have any magical effects on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.   “What works with weight loss is if you choose water or non-caloric beverage and/or eat a diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling, and help you trim caloric intake”, says Penn State researcher Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan.   Food with high water content tends to look larger, its higher volume requires more chewing, and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full.  Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, oatmeal and beans.

Water Helps Energize Muscles:   Cells that don’t maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue.  “When muscle cells don’t have adequate fluids, they don’t work as well and performance can suffer”, says Guest.   Drinking enough fluids is important when exercising.  Follow the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for fluid intake before and during physical activity.  These guidelines recommend that people drink about 17 ounces of fluid about two hours before exercise.  During exercise, they recommend that people start drinking fluids early, and drink them at regular intervals to replace fluids loss by sweating.

Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good:  Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss.  But don’t expect over-hydration to erase wrinkles or fine lines. “ Dehydration makes your skin look drier and more wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration”, he says.  “But once you are adequately hydrated, the kidneys take over and excrete excess fluids”, says Kenneth Ellner, MD/Dermatologist.  You can also help “lock” moisture into your skin by using moisturizer, which creates a physical barrier to keep moisture in.  

Water Helps Your Kidneys:    Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells.  The main toxin in the body is blood urea nitrogen, a water-soluble waste that is able to pass through the kidneys to be excreted in the urine, explains Guest.  “Your kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate,” he says.   When you’re getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor.  When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions.  If you chronically drink too little, you may be at higher risk for kidney stones, especially in warm climates, Guest warns.  

Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function:    Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation.  When you don’t get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to main hydration, and the result is constipation.  “Adequate fluid and fiber is the perfect combination, because the fluid pumps up the fiber and acts like a broom to keep your bowel functioning properly,” says Koelemay.  

5 Tips to Help You Drink More Fluids

If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:

1. Have a beverage with every snack and meal.

2. Choose beverages you enjoy; you’re likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables.  Their high-water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods. 

4. Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.

5. Choose beverages that meet your individual needs.  If you’re watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.

The above portion was taken from an article posted to WebMD, Titled:  6 Reasons to Drink Water.  The contents was medically reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on July 1, 2024;   Written by Kathleen M. Zelman, RD, LD, MPH      

THE SPIRITUAL BENEFETS OF WATER

Water was created by God, and no one has been able to duplicate it.   Water is needed for us to live, as well as all the animals too.  For us to have food, water is needed for the growth of plants. Water is also used for cooking, cleansing one’s body, washing clothes, and cleaning the house.  Water is very beneficial to mankind.  There are seas and oceans but that water is not for us to drink much of it has high salt content, and is a perfect environment for the animals that live in it.  

Here are a few passages from the Holy Bible that will give you a clarity on this matter.  

Genesis 1: 1-2  “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

John 1: 1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”   Verse 14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”   This is speaking about Jesus Christ read the whole chapter.  

1 John 5-8  “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one. 

Therefore, water has a great purpose let us see some of it’s uses in Old and News Testament Bible days.  

Purification of the temple Priest:   In the Old Testament Moses received specific instructions from the LORD on how the Priest were to be consecrated and anointed before they can become vessels of the LORD to serve in the temple.   Let’s see what Exodus 40:12-14, 16 “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.  You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may minister to Me as a priest.  You shall bring his sons and cloth them with tunics. Then you shall anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may minister to Me as priest, for their anointing will surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.  Thus Moses did According to all the LORD commanded him, so he did.”

Whenever the Priest conducted a purification for sin sacrifice for the people, they had to follow specific instructions, as well as others who were involved in the Red Heifer sacrifice; in order to become sanctified and cleansed again to perform their duties.  Read:  Numbers Chapter 19, making note of Verses 7-10.

Naaman the Leper healed by obeying the prophet Elisha’s instructions to go and wash in the Jordan 7 times.  Read 2 Kings chapter 5.   Note Verse Verse 14 “Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

Repentance:  Peter instructed those who had just hearing his sermon and their hearts were pricked by the gospel message, They asked what shall they do?   See Acts chapter 2, in verse 38 he gives them final instructions as a answer to their request .  “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Once a person makes a decision to give their life to Jesus Christ, and repents of all their sins, water baptism should follow.   Romans 10:9-10, 13- “..that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Water Baptism:  Is where you openly make your decision known to others.  It is conducted by a Minister of God, the candidate is submerged in water; as they go under they leave their old life buried in the water, and they emerge from the water a newly born soul ready to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.   

Jesus Went Through Water Baptism by John the Baptist, See Mark 1:9-11.. “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  And straightway coming up out of the water he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”    Although, John the baptist didn’t want to baptize Jesus because he knew he was the Son of God and he didn’t feel worthy to do it, but Jesus told him he must so that the scriptures would be fulfilled.

As Christians, many things written in the bible we may not fully understand, but as you purpose in your mind to be a follower of Christ not in word only, but in deeds as well. As remain open to receive the Holy Spirit’s teachings, and you continue to keep living according to God’s Word, you will begin to understand more as you remain humble and submissive to Him.  That is why we should never argue about the Bible, take God’s word as the truth and live to please Him.  As you continue to walk in obedience to Him, you will surely fulfill the life He has ordained for you!

Let us pray:   

Heavenly Father, I need your help, I need to know more about you.  Help me to know where I can go to receive your teachings. Let me know that I’m in the right place.   Open up my heart to receive your Word, so I can begin to live a life that is pleasing to You.   Thank you, Lord for showing me your kindness and mercy today, in Jesus mighty name.  Amen. 

Elder Ann-Marie Henry