Nowadays everyone seems to carry water bottles everywhere. In fact, it is the second most popular drink (after soft drinks). But water lovers have recently been shocked by a new report stating that the benefits of drinking water may have been sold off. It turns out that the old recommendation to drink eight glasses a day is nothing more than a guide that is not based on science.
But don’t drop your water bottle or glass just yet. Although we may not need eight glasses, there are many reasons to drink water. In fact, drinking water (whether in its pure form or in the form of other liquids or foods) is very important for your health.
Evaporation from the skin, respiration, urine, and feces causes constant fluid loss which must be replaced daily for good health. If your water intake doesn’t match your production, you could become dehydrated. Fluid loss occurs in warmer climates, during vigorous exercise, at high altitudes, in older adults who are less thirsty.
Here are Six reasons to Drink Enough Water or Other Fluids Every day:
1. Drinking Water Helps Maintain The Body’s Fluid Balance: Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these body fluids are digestion, absorption, circulation, salivation, transport of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature.
“Your brain communicates with your kidneys via the posterior hypothalamus and tells you how much water to excrete as urine or to maintain reserves.”
When you are dehydrated, the brain triggers the body’s thirst mechanism. And unless you’re taking drugs that make you thirsty, the guest said, you should listen to these signs and drink water, juice, milk, coffee – anything but alcohol.
“Alcohol interferes with communication between the brain and the kidneys, leading to excessive fluid secretion, which in turn can lead to dehydration.”
2. Water Can Help Control Calories: For years, dieters have been drinking plenty of water as a weight loss strategy. Although water does not have a miraculous effect on weight loss, it can certainly be replaced with high-calorie drinks.
“What works for weight loss is if you prefer water or calorie-free drinks over high-calorie drinks and/or a diet high in water-rich foods that are healthier, and will help you reduce your calorie intake.”
Foods with a high water content appear larger, require more chewing in volume, and are absorbed more slowly by the body, leading to a feeling of fullness. Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, soups with broth, oatmeal, and nuts.
3. Water Helps Energize Muscles: Cells that fail to maintain their fluid and electrolyte balance shrink, which can lead to muscle fatigue. “When muscle cells don’t have sufficient fluid, then they don’t work properly and performance can decline.”
Adequate hydration is important when exercising. Follow the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for hydration before and during physical activity. These guidelines recommend that people drink about 17 ounces of fluid about two hours before exercising. During exercise, it is recommended that you drink fluids early and drink regularly to replace fluids with sweat.
4. Water Helps Skin Look Good: Your skin is rich in water and acts as a protective barrier to prevent excessive fluid loss. However, don’t expect overhydration to get rid of wrinkles or fine lines.
“Dehydration makes your skin more fuzzy, which can be corrected with proper hydration”. “But once you’re sufficiently hydrated, the kidneys take over the excess fluid.”
5. Water Helps Your Kidneys: Body fluids carry waste products to and from cells. The main poison in the body is blood urea, a water-soluble waste that can pass through the kidneys and be excreted in the urine. “Your kidneys do a wonderful job of cleaning toxins from your body as long as you’re drinking enough fluids.”
With adequate fluid intake, urine flows freely, is light in color and odorless. If you drink too little chronically, you may be at a higher risk of developing kidney stones, especially in hot climates.
6. Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function: Getting enough fluids keeps the digestive tract flowing and prevents constipation. When you don’t get enough fluids, the colon pulls water out of the stool to keep you hydrated – and the result is constipation.
