How Important is Drinking Water
September 17th, 2006The Importance of Hydration
Did you know the human body is over 70% water? Our brain and all the muscles in our body contain about 75% water and our blood is made up of over 80% water. Without water your body would not be able absorb the vitamins and minerals contained in the food you eat. Also, the process of digestion becomes impossible not only without fiber but an adequate supply of water in your diet as well.
The following are a series of commonly asked questions about drinking water.
Q. How is drinking water good for me?
A. Drinking an adequate amount of water each day has been shown to carry enormous benefits to our overall well being. Water is commonly known to suppress the appetite and often when we eat it is not food our body is craving for, but water. This certainly makes sense when you consider that more than 70% of our body is made up of water. Water dissolves calcium in the urine and this is very important as a preventative aid to the formation of kidney stones. The consistent intake of water flushes your system and makes you less susceptible to viruses, allergies and colds, especially in the mouth, throat and lungs. Along with vitamin C, drinking an increased amount of water tends to help you get rid of cold and flu symptoms quicker. By drinking enough water we keep our kidneys clean and with clean and properly functioning kidneys we lesson the load on our liver which in turn is able to metabolize fat at a much more effective rate and this decreases the amount of stored fat in our body. The more water we drink the more water that passes through our system and this rids our body of waste and harmful toxins and relieves constipation.
Q. How important is drinking water while exercising?
A. While exercising, your body is constantly losing fluid through perspiration as your body tries to cool itself through the skin and also through respiration or breathing. This is why it is of the utmost importance to keep your body well hydrated to maintain a steady performance level. The harder you exercise the more heat is produced by your muscles and the higher your body temperature rises. This heat from your muscles soon finds its way into your bloodstream and is pumped throughout your system and is released through the sweat glands on your skin. The evaporation of the sweat on your skin helps to keep your body cool.
Q. What happens when we sweat?
A. The more you sweat, the more fluid your body loses. Sweating is healthy as it keeps our body temperature at a safe working level. Many types of
metabolic and cellular functions within our bodies are dependant upon
maintaining certain fluid levels. When you are dehydrated, your blood becomes thicker and due to this lack of water within your blood, your body has to work harder to circulate it. This in turn affects your brains ability to concentrate, your heart strains to work and you begin to feel tired and fatigued.
Q. What about exercising in the heat?
A. When you exercise in the heat, some of the water from your blood is forced to the surface of your skin through your sweat glands. The blood
vessels leading into your skin contract and this prevents a significant drop in blood pressure. Once the blood flow to your skin diminishes, the heat produced by your muscles can’t be transported to the surface of your skin and your body temperature will begin to rise. If however you drink enough water before and while you are exercising you will likely prevent yourself from overheating and keep your body temperature at a point where you can continue to exercise.
Q. How much water should I drink?
A. Put no limit on your water intake during the day. It might seem like a lot but 3-6 liters of water a day depending on your size will not only help you stay cool while exercising, the pure water as mentioned previously will flush your kidneys and liver helping to remove toxins and impurities from your system. A good indication that you are drinking enough water each day is when the color of your urine is closer to clear than it is to yellow. The more yellow it is, the more toxins are in your system. So the clearer your urine is, especially first thing in the morning, the less impurities are in your body. One more thing worth mentioning, if you drink coffee or tea, have one extra cup of water for each cup of tea or coffee. This is due to the dehydration effect of these type of drinks.
The following is a list of common problems that are often treated with drugs but have often been cured with an increased water intake.
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- High blood pressure
- Back pain
- Migraines/headaches
- High cholesterol
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