Drink to Your Health - The Whole-Body Benefits of Water

Before you reach for that sugary soft drink, consider this the next time you feel a little parched: Clean, pure water is essential to every function your body performs. Second only to the air you breathe in its vital importance, it makes up roughly two-thirds of your body. Deprived of it completely, you may not even survive a week. And even the mildest case of dehydration can cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches and muscle weakness. No wonder health experts are constantly telling us to drink more water.

Crucial to the body's cleansing processes, water lessens the burden on the organs involved in detoxification—mainly the liver and kidneys—by flushing out toxins and waste products. Drinking plenty of water each day also helps prevent constipation by moving food through the digestive tract. A necessary lubricant, it helps to ease elimination and promote regular bowel movements.

As part of a healthy weight loss program, water can help shed the pounds by increasing your metabolism. While the science behind this concept is the subject of ongoing research, studies have shown that drinking more water can significantly boost your metabolic rate and thus burn even more calories. Plus, drinking cold water can increase your metabolism even more, since the body must expend more energy to warm it up.

In addition to these important functions, water also helps to regulate body temperature through perspiration—as sweat evaporates, the body cools down. Water also carries necessary nutrients to the body's cells; surrounds and protects the joints, organs tissues; and moistens soft tissue such as that of the eyes, mouth and nose.

Everyday functions such as breathing, perspiring and elimination constantly deplete the body's supply of this vital liquid. Although advice varies as to how much water you should drink each day, a good rule of thumb is to drink at least half your body weight in ounces daily. Try to drink only pure water and avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea, as well as sugary juices and soft drinks. If you need a splash of flavor in your water, add a spritz of fresh lemon or lime juice. Non-caffeinated herbal teas are also a delicious way to boost your water intake, and many fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of water.

Lifestyle differences such as frequent exercise, illness, environmental conditions (dry, hot, humid, high altitude, etc.), as well as pregnancy and breastfeeding will likely increase the amount of water your body needs, so it is important to be mindful of changes in your daily routine.

At Last... a Miracle Drink, Water

Water, it's impossible to live without it. It is the most essential element the body needs for survival. One of the most effective ways you can improve your overall health is very simple…drink more water. Proper Hydration is vital for everyone, not just active individuals. Water regulates body temperature, protects internal organs, improves digestion, transports essential nutrients, and flushes waste and toxins from your body. Water is also the ultimate moisturizer for our skin.

With all the things Moms have to do, it's no wonder you may not drink as much water as you should. Frequent headaches and fatigue are among the most common signs of dehydration. Many of us don't realize we suffer from dehydration because we blame headache, fatigue and dizziness on other causes.

How can you tell if you are dehydrated? An easy way is to check the color of your urine. If your urine looks like the color of apple juice you are probably dehydrated. Urine should be very pale yellow to clear. A caution, however, certain vitamins and prescription medications can cause the urine to appear darker. Check with your pharmacist.

How much water do you need? The correct answer, of course, varies from person to person. Every day you lose water from sweating, exhaling, urinating and bowel movements.

The most common rule is the "8 glasses a day rule". This is a general starting point, but here are several factors that can influence your water needs:





1. Environment – Hot or humid weather requires additional water intake to help lower your body temperature and to replace what you lose.


2. Exercise – If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat you'll need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss.


3. Health conditions – Fever, vomiting, diarrhea can cause your body to lose extra fluids.


4. Pregnancy or Breast feeding – women who are pregnant or breastfeeding require additional water to stay hydrated.

Bottom line. Drink before you are thirsty. Thirst alone isn't always an adequate gauge of your body's need for a drink. Thirst tells us we are already dehydrated. Make water drinking a daily part of your normal routine. Keep a water bottle on hand and drink from it throughout the day. If you have difficulty with enjoying water, try squeezing some lemon or lime juice into it.

Start drinking your way to better health today. Your body will thank you.