Holiday Hydration

'Tis the season...no, not what you are thinking...  I mean the season for dry skin, hair, eyes, sinuses, throat, and a partridge in a pair tree!  Most of us (in the Northeast, anyway) have had our heat on for a good while now, and we are starting to see and feel the impact.  If you have plants in your house you might notice them getting dried out and needing watering more frequently.  Well, guess what?  You are no different.  We often think of Summer as the time of overheating and needing to stay on top of hydration, but it is just as important in the Fall and Winter.  Whether we spend most of our time inside or outside, our bodies are connected to nature, and the qualities of Fall/Winter are reflected within us during those seasons.  Think of the wind blowing, the brittle tree branches snapping (instead of bending like they do in the dampness of Spring), and things hardening and freezing solid.

Hydration is the key that turns numerous functions in our body.  So many people are dehydrated and don't even know it.  When people tell me they are dizzy, lightheaded, feeling tired, the first thing I ask is, "Are you drinking enough water?"  Then I am usually shocked by how much people think is "enough."  Technically you are supposed to take your weight, divide it by 2, and then drink that many ounces of water per day.  That doesn't mean guzzling it here and there, when you get a chance...it means sipping/drinking throughout the day, in a balanced way, so your body can actually utilize it.  Even digestive problems can be a result of not drinking enough water!  When I started measuring out my water each day, and making sure I was drinking it all, I was amazed by how little I had actually been drinking all along (though I thought I was so "good" about it) and how much better I truly felt from it!  Some symptoms I thought were related to my chronic illness just went away!  So I am throwing a challenge in this post...figure out how much water you should be drinking (with the little equation above), measure it out each morning, and drink it throughout the day.  You will be surprised how great you can feel from that one, simple act!  (Please share your results with me...I would LOVE to hear them!)  Another good thing to keep in mind is that it's not just about water, it's also about electrolytes.  If you drink too much water you can actually dilute your electrolytes too much...so I suggest adding a pinch of either a high quality Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt to your water (I like this one).

Now, due to the fact that it is Winter and our heating systems are running regularly, we are facing quite a hydration challenge, so we need to work on both the inside and OUTSIDE of our bodies!  That's where my "favorite thing" for today's post comes in (finally, right?!)  Lots of people use humidifiers during the Winter months, but many aren't aware of the hazards that go along with them.  The full-house humidifiers that are attached to your heating system can be a perfect breeding ground for mold, and that mold ends up in your ductwork, blowing around for you to breathe in (and don't even get me started on how unhealthy and downright dangerous mold is).  Then there are the plug-in units of various shapes, sizes, and brands.  If they are hard to clean, then they are also perfect hosts for mold growth.  You also have to think about the materials your unit is made out of.  If it is constructed with toxic parts and adhesives, as it breaks down it will be aerated for you to breathe.

For these reasons, and more, I was so grateful to find the Humio Humidifier!  The founder/creator was someone who had health issues himself and could not find a "healthy" humidifier to meet his needs.  I find that the very best products come from situations like these, and I am so impressed by people who come up against such roadblocks and just create their own solutions...and then share them so we all benefit!

Even Santa appreciates some extra hydration this time of year!

What I love about this humidifier is the quality of the materials (there was never a plastic or toxic smell...and I have the most sensitive sniffer), it is easy to clean (regularly), it has a cool and relaxing (multicolored) nightlight feature (which you can turn-off whenever you want), and it has a compartment for essential oils, which we use when we are sick or coming down with something (we use mostly Eucalyptus, Thieves, or Lavender oil, but be sure to always be careful with essential oils, because they don't agree with everyone, and they are an added thing for the body to process...and only use the highest quality oils!)

We have a Humio in each bedroom and one on our main floor.  Since they are small, they are perfect for bedrooms, and then during the day I suggest putting it in the room you spend the most time.  If you move around, it can move with you.  It is very light and easy to transport!  We have had ours for three seasons now, and they are still going strong!

At the time of writing this blog post the cheapest I can find them online is $89.93 on Amazon.com (with free Prime shipping).  Originally I was lucky to find them on a website that also offered a coupon code, so keep an eye out for those opportunities.  We also got one of ours at a local health store when they were running a promotion.

Our bodies need moisture to thrive and stay healthy!  Without fluids and adequate mucous in our membranes, germs have a chance to go crazy.  Once I hear my son start snoring at night and my hair starts to do its static-flyaway-thing, I know I need to up our humidifier game.  Waking up with a dry mouth?  Can't keep enough eye drops on hand?  Skin looking like the tissue paper you are stuffing in your holiday gift bags?  Listen to all of these signs and water yourself accordingly!

Check out this video to learn more about the Humio Humidifier...