Water Consumption for Health
Our bodies are made up of around 60% water, which makes it an essential component for good health. But does it really need to be water? Can’t we just substitute soda, coffee and juice? Truth is, not really. Those liquids might keep us hydrated, but they don’t have the same health benefits as water, and some might even be dehydrating!
We can survive a month without food, but after only a week without water, we would die. The body uses water to absorb nutrients and salts, and then uses water to transport nutrients and oxygen to our body’s cells and organs. Water is also essential for detoxification, which is vitally important to our health, since it clears our bodies of impurities. Water does this through urine and sweat.
Because the kidneys filter out waste products from the blood via urination, it is a good idea to up your water intake to help the kidneys out, especially when it’s hot! If the concentration of our urine is high (dark or bright yellow urine is a sign), and the water content is low, salts can cause stones to form in the kidneys.
We are at serious risk of sunstroke if our bodies become dehydrated. When we sweat, the sweat cools our body down. If we allow ourselves to get dehydrated, our bodies can’t sweat. This can cause over-heating which can seriously damage the body’s internal organs and brain.
Water intake can also help prevent high blood pressure. When our body excretes and loses more than the optimal amount of liquid, blood vessels constrict, causing blood pressure to increase. If blood pressure is increased by a deficiency in water, the constricted blood vessels cause the heart to work harder to compensate for the reduced volume of blood. Greater consumption of water means less stress on the blood vessels, less stress on the heart, and a decreased risk of heart disease.
If you are drinking enough water your skin stays hydrated and much younger looking. In fact, sagging and wrinkled skin can be a symptom of dehydration. Water allows your body to sweat and clean out the pores, leaving your skin clean and clear. Also, water will fill you up and help cut into those hunger pains. Since water has zero calories, you can drink all you want to help control your weight.
Drinking water does not have to be a chore. It seems like lately everyone has a cup of coffee or bottle of soda near them. Swap it out for a bottle of water. Make the water taste better by adding lemon slices, cucumber slices or mint to it. You may feel like you miss the soda at first, but in no time at all, you can replace that sugary habit with water. Studies have proven that keeping the bottle of water near you will result in an increase of water consumption, without an increase in effort.
