Water : A Vital Nutrient

 
Most of us don’t know that your body weight is approximately 60% water. This water is used by our body in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Our body loses water through breathing, sweating & digestion whereas the much loss of water causes dehydration, so it is very important to rehydrate our body by drinking liquids and eating foods that contain water. The amount of water ones need depends on various factors, including the climate he lives in, how physically active he is, and whether he is healthy and fit or has any other health problems.
 
Water does more than just quench our thirst and regulate our body’s temperature; it also keeps the tissues in your body moist. Everyone know how it feels when our eyes, nose, or mouth gets dry? Water keeps our body hydrated and retains optimum levels of moisture in these sensitive areas, as well as in the blood, bones, and the brain. In addition, water helps to protect the spinal cord acting as a lubricant and cushion for our joints.
 
Drinking adequate water enables our body to excrete waste through perspiration, urination, and defecation. It helps our kidneys and liver to flush out the waste, as do our intestines. Water can also keep us safe from getting constipated by softening our stools and helps to move the food we have eaten through intestinal tract. However, there is no evidence to prove that intake of more fluid will cure constipation.
 
Digestion starts with saliva, the basis of which is water. Saliva contains enzymes which help to break down food and liquid and to dissolve minerals and other nutrients. Proper digestion makes minerals and nutrients more accessible to the body. Water is also necessary to digest soluble fibre. With the help of water, this fibre dissolves easily and benefits our intestine health by making well-formed, soft stools that are easy to pass.
 
Our body loses water while doing exercise, sweating in summer, or at the time of fever or illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea. If you’re losing fluids for any of these reasons, it’s important to increase your fluid intake so that you can restore your body’s natural hydration levels. Doctor also recommends taking more liquids to treat other health conditions, like bladder infections and urinary tract stones. 
 
How Much Water Do You Need?
 There’s no hard and fast rule, and many individuals meet their daily hydration needs by simply drinking water when they are thirsty. In fact, most people who are in good physical health get enough fluids by drinking water and other beverages when they’re thirsty, and also by drinking a beverage with each of their meals, for Disease Control and Prevention. If you want to know your hydration level, look at your urine. If it’s clear, you’re in good shape. If it’s dark, you’re probably dehydrated. 

Here are the top ten health benefits of drinking water.
 
1. Relieves Fatigue
If you often feel tired, there is a high chance that it could be due to inadequate consumption of water which makes the body function less efficiently. In fact, fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration. 
When there is less water in the body, there is a drop of blood volume which causes the heart to work harder to pump oxygenated blood out in the bloodstream, and other major organs also work less efficiently. Thus, drinking adequate water can help your body function better and reduce fatigue.
2. Treats Headaches and Migraines
Drinking plenty of water prevents you from headache or migraine, the first thing that you can do to get some relief is, drink plenty of water. Headaches and migraines are often caused by dehydration.
In a study published in the European Journal of Neurology, researchers found that increasing water intake helped reduce the total number of hours and intensity of headaches in the study participants.
 
3. Prevents Digestion and Constipation.
Drinking plenty of water also improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This helps in digestion and prevents constipation. Inadequate water in the body often results in constipation as the colon pulls water from the stools to maintain hydration, thereby making them harder and difficult to pass.
 
Drinking sufficient water boosts our metabolism and helps the body properly break down food. This helps our digestive system work well and promotes regular bowel movements. Especially drinking Warm water is good for digestive health.
 
4. Helps Weight Loss
In a research, scientists found that drinking two eight-ounce glasses of water prior to meals can help suppress appetite and hence support our weight loss efforts. When we drink water, it fills our stomach and reduces the tendency to eat more. Also it helps increase the rate at which the body burns fat, and promotes the breakdown and elimination of fat cells.Calorie-free water is also a great replacement for high-calorie drinks like alcohol, soft drinks and sodas that often contribute to weight gain.
5. Excellent Detoxifier
Water is an excellent detoxifier. It helps flush out toxins from our body and release the waste primarily through sweat and urine.
Drinking of adequate water improve kidney function and reduces kidney stones by diluting the salts and minerals in urine that cause kidney stones. Thus we need to drink plenty of water throughout the day, experts warn against drinking too much water (although uncommon still, it is possible) as it may reduce your kidneys’ ability to filter out waste.
Thus, it is recommended to drink such amount of water that your body requires. As the amount of water required by the body tends to differ from one person to another, it is usually suggested to drink to your thirst, and also include other fluids and foods with high water content in your diet.
6. Fluid Balance
Approximately 60% of the body is made of water. Drinking enough water maintains the body’s fluid balance, which helps transport nutrients in the body, regulate body temperature, digest food, and more.
7. Clearer Skin
Certain toxins in the body can cause the skin to inflame, which results in clogged pores and acne. While science saying water makes the skin wrinkle free is contradictory, water does flush out these toxins and can reduce the risk of pimples.
8. Improves Kidney Function
Our kidneys process 200 quarts of blood daily, flush out waste and transporting urine to the bladder. Kidneys need enough fluids to clear away what we don’t need in the body. Let’s drink to that!
 
9. Productivity Boosts & Improves Mood
A glass of water could help people to concentrate and stay refreshed and alert. Research indicates that mild dehydration (even one or two percent lower hydration level of hydration than optimal) can negatively affect your mood and ability to think.
A small study conducted on 25 women and published in the Journal of Nutrition found that being dehydrated can take a toll on your mood and cognitive function. The colour of your urine is a good indicator of your level of hydration. The lighter the colour the better the level of hydration and vice versa
10. Prevention From Pain
A little water can really go a long way. Aching joints and muscle cramps and strains can all occur if the body is dehydrated. So drink plenty of water to prevent these problems.
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