Water is the essence of life and is needed by every cell in your body. Approximately 60-70 percent of your body is made up of water. Water is, in fact, the second most important thing that our bodies need to survive, oxygen being the first. Water is involved in every single life process that takes place in your body.
Most of human body contains water. Almost 2/3rds of our body weight is water
- Blood is 83% water
- Muscles are 75% water
- The brain is 85% water
- Bone is 22% water
The benefits of drinking water could easily number in the hundreds. But here we list down the most important ones:
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Aids weight loss: Water suppresses the appetite and speeds up the metabolism. Drinking a glass of water before a meal helps you feel fuller, thus helping you consume fewer calories. You can also replace sweetened soft drinks with water to help in your weight loss goal. Drinking more water also helps to increase your metabolism. German researches reported that after test subjects drank two cups of water, their metabolism soared by 30 percent and stayed elevated for 30-40 minutes.
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Beneficial for the kidneys: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. Water dilutes the body's stone-forming salts and minerals in the urine. Stop drinking water and you are actually inviting kidney stones.
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Beneficial for the brain: The brain depends on the water flowing through your body to work efficiently and help you think better. If you are having a fuzzy day, and the brain does not seem to be working properly, drink a glass of water. Keep a water bottle at your desk and sip regularly.
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Beneficial for Heart: Drinking adequate amount of water daily can reduce your risk of heart disease. According to a study done by Adventist Health Study, women who drank five or more glasses of water daily can reduce their chances of heart disease by 41 percent as compared to women who drank two glasses of water daily. Similarly, healthy men can lower the risks of coronary heart diseases by 54 percent if they drink five or more glasses of water each day.
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Beneficial for the Skin: A properly hydrated skin looks plump and more radiant, making you look younger. Water helps to moisturize skin and increase skin elasticity. It also acts as a detoxifier and a blood purifier resulting in clean and clear face, and less acne. Deprive yourself of water and you'll see the difference in the mirror.
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Beneficial for the Stomach: Fiber and water goes hand in hand for good digestion. When a person drinks enough water, waste particles dissolved in water passes through the digestive tract smoothly, helping you have your normal daily bowel movement. When you are dehydrated, your colon is left dry as your body absorbs all the water, thus making it more difficult to pass waste. Heartburn, gastritis and ulcers can also be prevented by taking modest amounts of water routinely.
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Less muscle cramps: Proper hydration helps keep your joints and muscles lubricated. Water is one of the main element associated with muscle cramps. So, drinking water before, during and after exercise can help prevent muscle cramping.
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Boosts energy: The most common cause of daytime fatigue is mild dehydration. Even minor dehydration can make you feel fatigued, lose concentration or cause headache. Water helps the blood transport oxygen, and the level of oxygen in the bloodstream are greater when the body is well hydrated. This leads to increased energy levels. If you are properly hydrated, your heart also doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood throughout your body.
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Regulates body temperature: Water helps regulate your body temperature, especially during exercise. When you exercise, your body temperature rises and your body starts sweating. As the sweat evaporates, your body cools. Too much loss of water as part of sweating can increase your risk of heat exhaustion. So, it is necessary that you stay hydrated while exercising for good physical performance and health.
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Vital during pregnancy: Pregnant women need more water to support their increased blood supply and the growing baby. Also, when breastfeeding your baby, you should drink even more water, as breastfeeding makes you thirsty and could dehydrate you if you haven't had adequate water.
So, drink lots of water throughout the day, to promote your mind body fitness.
