Healthy reasons why you should be taking enough Water
Water is a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, freezing at 32°F, think of water as a universal substance.
When you take water, It fills the spaces in and between cells and helps form structures of large molecules such as protein and glycogen.
Water is also required for digestion, absorption, transportation, dissolving nutrients, elimination of waste products and thermoregulation
When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated.
You might be wondering, how much water should i take a day?, Health experts commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about 2 liters, or half a gallon a day.
Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as sharp.
Here are six reasons to make sure you’re drinking enough water or other fluids every day;
(1) Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids.
Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
(2) Water Can Help Control Calories.
For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn’t have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.
(3) Water Helps Energize Muscles
Cells that don’t maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue.
(4) Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good
Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss.
Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration.
But once you are adequately hydrated, the kidneys take over and excrete excess fluids.
Tips to Help You Drink More Water
If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:
- Have a beverage with every snack and meal.
- Choose beverages you enjoy; you’re likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.
- Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.
- Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you’re watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.
Eat fruits that helps in hydrating your body(e.g Watermelon).
We’ve been discussing, the health benefits of taking much water, now what then happens when it becomes too much?;
When you drink too much water, you may experience water poisoning, intoxication, or a disruption of brain function.
This happens when there’s too much water in the cells (including brain cells), causing them to swell.
When the cells in the brain swell they cause pressure in the brain.
As drinking too much water can disrupt your body’s electrolyte balance and lead to hyponatremia.
A condition that occurs when the level of sodium in the blood is too low.
With this condition, the body holds onto too much water. This dilutes the amount of sodium in the blood and causes levels to be low.
3 liters (100 ounces) may be too much for some people.
Note: Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s very important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water, on a daily basis.
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Credits: Wikipedia
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