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Hydration, our Movin’ Together tool for this broadcast, is an inexpensive way to fend your immune system and fight diseases, like the coronavirus.

(Keep reading to find out how you can win one of the Movin’ Together gifts that we are giving away next week.)

The Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, said that the time for Americans to begin preparing for a potential outbreak of the Coronavirus is now, although officials believe the immediate threat to the public remains low.

One of the ways to boost or fend our immune system protecting us and our families, anytime, and especially now, is to hydrate! Your immune system is your body’s defense against infection and illness. When functioning properly your immune system recognizes the cells that make up your body and will try to get rid of anything unfamiliar. It destroys germs, bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

It is important to drink enough water regularly to stay hydrated, especially when protecting our bodies during the cold and flu season, and now the emergence of the Coronavirus. Keep your immunity strong by drinking plenty of water to stave off infection. Staying hydrated helps your body naturally eliminate toxins and other bacteria that may cause illness.

Life is complicated and sort of messy dealing with relationships, finances, and illnesses, so we are encouraging us all to use these healthy tools! In the Vogt family, they are grateful that for the past four years they have been blessed not suffering from colds and cases of flu. They attribute hydrating regularly for part of that success.

Sara does not enjoy drinking water so she starts her day with two glasses early in the morning during her reading, praying and planning time. She also adds lemons to the water because they are a good source of Vitamin C, which is known to boost the immune system, prevent disease, and protect cells.

How much water do we need to drink in a day? One of the simple formulas for determining the general amount is to take your weight and divide it by two and drink that amount in ounces each day. There are other formulas to encourage us to hydrate each day and each of them is alerting us to be diligent about our water intake. Some suggestions to help us hydrate are to start your day by drinking two 8 ounce glasses of water and then one 8 ounce glass before going to bed at night. Drink two, 8-ounce glasses before each meal, preferably a half-hour beforehand. You might also try keeping a pitcher of water on your kitchen counter containing your recommended daily intake of water to remind you to hydrate. When leaving the house, take a bottle of water with you. To make it fun for your kids or grandkids, purchase a fun water bottle or buy the eight-ounce water bottles for them to drink. As we drink, we can remind them to do so as well. If you do not like the taste of your water, you may want to consider buying bottled water. Also, consider adding flavor to your water by infusing it with lemons, strawberries, blueberries, cucumber, and herbs to change things up.

Consuming water-rich foods is another way to hydrate. These include fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, oatmeal, and beans. Some of the fruits and vegetables especially high in water content are watermelons, cantaloupes, apples, oranges, kiwis, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, and carrots. Soup can be homemade broth or store-bought according to the desire for convenience and made from chicken, beef, or vegetables according to taste. Adding onions and garlic can strengthen your immune system, as well; an excellent idea during the flu and cold season.

Daily showering and bathing is another way water comes to the rescue. Even our animals need to be bathed so Lauren and Julianna took Hersey for a bath, which like some of our children was not impressed with that event. A nice warm bath is another way to relax and hydrate anytime but especially rejuvenating in the winter.

Some recipes to add to your bath are as follows:

• Lemon Bath Recipe – Squeeze and drop 5-6 lemons into your running bath. If you don’t have lemons, 3/4 cup of bottled lemon juice will work just as well.
• Epsom Salt Bath Recipe – Add 1/2 cup of Epsom salt to running bath water. Epsom salts can be mixed with olive oil, milk and baking soda for added benefits!
• Milk Bath Recipe – Milk baths are best with powdered milk. Add two cups of powdered milk to your bath while it’s filling. Feel free to add honey, lavender or Epsom salt along with the milk for added benefits! relax.
• Lavender Bath Recipe – Fill a tea bag with dried lavender or put a few drops of lavender essential oil into your running bath.

To put it simply—and there are volumes of books written on the benefits of water—water keeps your organs functioning properly, clears toxins, eliminates excess sodium from your body, hydrates your muscle cells, nourishes your skin, and boosts your metabolism. Additionally, weight loss can only be accomplished when you are giving your body the water it needs in addition to proper nutrients. This is helpful information for those of us who would like to shed some pounds for a “healthier you” this year.

Our tools for Movin’ Together aid in preventing cancer and hydration is no exception. The American Cancer Society reports that water protects the vital organs, specifically bladder, colon, and breast tissue against cancer.

Stay tuned for our Facebook giveaway next Monday for products that have the Movin’ Together logo on them. The items are an insulated klean kanteen water bottle from Wild Asaph Outfitters and a Movin’ Together hat, and winter headband. The bottle is a $50 value, the hat is a $25 value and the headband is priceless because the company does not make them anymore! :) Hopefully when you see, wear or use the Movin’ Together logo products you will feel encouraged to keep moving through this journey called life in grace and kindness.

Another way for you to enter the drawing is just e-mail us one benefit of hydrating to sara@thehomepagenetwork.com for your name to be entered into the drawing for your opportunity to win.

On our next Movin’ Together broadcast we will be sharing helpful, healthy information from attending the Idea Personal Trainer Institute in Alexandria, VA.