Note: this piece first appeared in the May 2007 issue of Clark Wellness ForkBytes.
Water is essential for life. The cytoplasm in each and every cell of your body is about 70 percent water (incidentally, about 70 percent of Earth’s surface is also water). Those cells make up every part of you, from your liver to your skin to your heart to your brain. Maintaining water balance on the cellular level is essential for every function of your body. Because our individual cells are mostly made up of water, supporting their natural state by taking in lots and lots of water makes us feel better and function at our best.
Appropriate water intake also supports the body’s natural cleansing processes. Drinking lots of clean, fresh water ensures that toxins are flushed out of the body rapidly and regularly. Simply adding more water to your daily intake helps create a cleanse-like effect in the body even if you don’t change your diet.
So how do you know whether you’re drinking enough? The easiest way to tell is to start noticing your urine. Urine should be pale and odorless. If your urine is a dark color or has a strong odor, increase your water intake.
High–water content foods are also key for cleansing the body. Vegetables, such as cucumbers and celery, and fruits, especially melons, have a much higher water content than other foods, such as beans, grains, and animal proteins. High–water content foods should be eaten in addition to water you’re drinking rather than in place of it. Browse our recipes for some tasty ideas!
For a gentle short-term cleanse, try emphasizing simply prepared high-water content fruits and vegetables and de-emphasizing (or temporarily eliminating) proteins and grains for a few days. Be sure to drink lots of water throughout!
