Let’s talk about water, baby! Let’s talk about all the good things and the great things that make water…well…so amazing! Drinking the proper amount of water is important for a wide variety of cellular processes that take place inside your body and is necessary for optimal body functioning. The fact is that you lose water every day without even knowing it. You expel water when you breathe, speak, cough, sneeze, and sweat. While the typical eight 8-ounce glasses of recommended daily water may be beneficial for some people, others who regularly exercise, or work and live in hot climates, should drink a gallon or 128 ounces of water daily. Also make sure that your water is pure, filtered and free of harmful chemicals and store it in a glass bottle while on the go. Water in plastic bottles is not the best option since the chemicals from the bottles can leach into your precious drink and then into your tissues.
Benefits All Body Systems
Water is an essential nutrient that is fundamental for a wide variety of cellular processes that take place inside your body. As the primary fluid in the body, making up 60 to 70 percent, water plays important roles in digestion, absorption, transportation and the use of nutrients. It is the medium for body temperature regulation and the safe elimination of waste products.
From energy production to keeping your skin healthy to maintaining joint lubrication, staying hydrated is necessary for maintaining optimal operation of all body systems. Although your brain is only one-fiftieth of your body weight, it is 85 percent water. A water loss of as much as 1 percent of body weight can result in impaired physiological and performance responses. Dehydration plays a role in depression, chronic fatigue syndrome and migraines. Your brain utilizes hydro-electrical energy created by the water drive of the energy-generated pumps. With dehydration, the level of energy generation is decreased, thus leading to a depressed brain function.
Prevents Diseases and Ailments
Water has a significant influence on health and disease. Dehydration may compromise body temperature regulation, disturb various enzymatic and chemical reactions, alter cellular concentrations of fluids and prevent the removal of toxins, which can lead to various health problems. Drinking a gallon of water a day helps reduce joint pain by keeping cartilage hydrated. Water is a natural diuretic that flushes out waste and harmful bacteria from your body. Staying hydrated can reduce the risk of many different cancers and plays a fundamental role in strengthening your immune system.
Curbs Calories
Drinking a gallon of water every day aids in burning fat and building muscle. Water suppresses the appetite and aids in fat metabolism. When you are sufficiently hydrated, your kidneys are able to burn more fat as fuel because your liver is able to metabolize stored fat more efficiently. When dehydration occurs, your body senses a lack of water and attempts to hold onto every bit as a survival mechanism. This causes swollen hands, feet and legs.
Considerations
Because sodium is lost through sweat, drinking excessive amounts during endurance activities can result in a rare but potentially fatal condition called hyponatremia. Sodium levels in your body become diluted. Consequently, your body’s water levels elevate and cells begin to expand, which can be dangerous for your organs. Individuals with kidney problems may have difficulty removing extra fluids from their body. A low-sodium, high water diet can also impair the homeostatic balance between sodium and fluids in your blood.
Happy Discoveries!
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