What will it take to get you drinking your daily ration of water?

Why do we like to make life so complicated? We know the things that will help us live well, yet we ignore them in pursuit of easier, tastier alternatives. Case-in-point: water. Most people now are aware of the importance of hydrating for all of the body’s vital processes. And yet many people forego water and choose sugar-laden drinks like soda and juice, or caffeine and fat-laden drinks like tea and coffee for their daily fluid intake. While these liquids do hydrate, they also come with side-effects that derive from the sugar and fat content. Let’s take a look at the importance of water through a spinal health perspective.

Hydration and spinal health

Your vertebrae are accentuated by intravertebral discs which need hydration to function properly. The compression of gravity and daily life is constantly squeezing these discs between the vertebrae, and water is being lost in the process. Loss of hydration makes the discs less resilient and increases the amount of downward compression on the spine. Water also plays a role in fortifying your cerebrospinal fluid which is important for circulating blood and nutrients to the brain. When dehydration in the spinal discs is present, the following conditions are present:

• Reduced range of motion 
• Stiffness in the spine
• Back pain 
• Disc degeneration 

Making sure you get your daily ration of water

While many people count soda, juice, coffee and tea in their daily fluid intake, we believe that you should start reintroducing good old water into your life. It is the purest, most direct and effective way to get your body the hydration it needs to live well. If you suffer from chronic back pain, hydration is one of the first things we will start you doing to begin creating the conditions necessary for healing.