Water and Wellness

The link between water and wellness is undeniable.  From drinking water to showers to spas to oceans...water and wellness are intertwined.   For many reasons - some practical and some more gravitational or inspirational - many of our great communities are build near water.  It sustains us, it draws us.  Many of us that grow up near water - an ocean, a lake, a river....can't imagine ever living apart from it.   

Growing up in Hawai'i, Kapua Browning (Honua's founder) found solace and a deep sense of wellness in the ocean.  Whether plagued by a headache or heartache, she escaped to the ocean for a swim, emerging more clear-headed and inspired.  Side note: her morning swims were the inspiration for our Pa'akai Cleansing Cream.  

We need water for sustenance - for survival.  Over 70% of the Earth's surface is made up of water and our bodies are a majority water as well (averaging 60%).  It's this relationship that draws us in - that makes water such a life force for us.  But it isn't just drinking water but even aquatic environments and the sounds of water that promote wellness - even if it is emotional or psychological.  Spas often feature fountains with running water - often just the little plug in ones - but it is the sounds and sensory effect it has on our mood and well-being.  Along the same lines are the beautiful aquariums people have, featuring exotic fish.  Yes, the fish are beautiful but they aren't companions.  It's like the effect of the aquatic environment - the effect it has on our senses and our soul.

Hydration is an entirely different aspect of water - also something we need to thrive and survive.  Hydration is more satiating than sensory but deeply interconnected to wellness nonetheless. 

And it's not just about water, in this case.  Drinking eight glasses of water may not work for everyone.  Hydration can come from plants and fruits and vegetables too. 

Anthropologist Gina Bria was studying desert tribes, trying to understand how they survived without drinking water.  She discovered it was connected to their diet of plants, which contain a high water content.  Once she came across chia seeds and the Tarahumara tribe of the eastern Sierra Madres, she realized she had her answer.  Chia seeds release a gel when they come in contact with water.  This clear, tasteless gel is a denser form of water, which is a method for germinating seeds safely in a dry environment....(anyone remember chia pets?).  This gel also brings additional absorption and energy into the body.  Chia seeds are so hydrating that the Tarahumara consume it before running 50 mile marathons through deserts and mountains.  

Hydration through certain plants can provide different hydration that is longer lasting, more nutritious and rich in electrolytes.  New studies show that this type of hydration - one that is locked inside plants - is a different kind of water than we find in a tap or bottle.  This means a diet high in fresh fruit, vegetables and leafy greens is a very powerful source of hydration - maybe better - but at least different than water alone.  You can read more about Gina's studies in her book, Quench, published in 2018.

When it comes to skin, we can get hydration in multiple ways - through drinking and consuming it - and through applying it topically.  Both are important and luckily...pretty easy to do.  Our Aloha Youth Serum contains vitalized water, along with other Hawaiian botanicals that help the serum penetrate into the deeper layers of skin for a more profound sense of hydration.

So take this time to do what you can and incorporate more water in your life - through ingesting and immersing or just enjoying.