Water - health benefits |
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1. Water helps with weight loss - keeps you fuller. Also if you have eaten and are still hungry, you might really be thirsty because most Americans do not drink enough water. 2. Water helps combat fatigue because being dehydrated (which most Americans are) makes you tired, helping to transport Oxygen and other nutrients to the cells. Also if you get enough water, your heart doesn't have to work as hard, pumping blood throughout your body. If you drink coffee, it's a mild diurectic which means you might need water to replace it. The same is true of any drink with caffeine in it like cola for example. 3. If you are dehydrated, it will put more stress on your mind and body. That's because 85% of our bodies are water. If you are feeling thirsty, you are already a bit dehydrated. Best to keep a sports bottle by you or a small bottle by you at all times and sip water. 4. Being well hydrated, lubricates muscles and helps you to exercise longer without muscle spasms. If you get a muscle spasm, it likely means you are a bit dehydrated - quickly drink 8 oz of water and the cramp should abate within a minute or two. 5. Water makes your wrinkles less apparent because it plumps up your skin cells. 6. Water helps your digestion system work better. It helps dissolve stuff in the bowels and also helps prevent constipation. 7. Water is good for the kidneys, helping to flush them out and helps to prevent kidney and bladder stones. Other liquids don't work as well as water because the kidneys must work to strain out the chemicals etc but water flushes chemicals out of the kidneys. Most authorities suggest drinking 8 eight oz glasses of water a day. You may need more water if you take medications, drink coffee or cola or sweat a lot or exercise or on hot days. A good gage of if you are drinking enough water is when your urine is water colored or close to it. Sources include webMD.com |