HEALTH BENEFITS OF DRINKING WATER
Water is a clear thin
liquid that has no colour or taste when it is pure. According to Dr. Jeffrey
Utz, Neuroscience, pediatrics, Allegheny University, an average of 60% of the
human body is composed of water.
This water is obtained
through foods with high water contents such as; fruits, vegetable, beverages
but most comes from the water we drink. During our everyday functioning like
sweating, urinating, breathing etc, water is lost by the body and this needs to
be replaced. Hence, it is commonly recommended that you drink at least
8 ounce (237ml) of water a day for proper functioning of the body.
Drinking water is often
overlooked as a necessary part of staying healthy. The body and blood are
largely made of water, so we need a lot of fluid for proper functioning of the
body.
Here are 5 health benefits
of drinking water:
1)
IT REGULATES BODY TEMPERATURE
Water is
stored in the middle layer of the skin and it comes to the skin’s surface as
sweat when the body heats up. As it evaporates, it cools the body.
Some
scientists have suggested that when there is too little water in the body, heat
storage increases and the individual is less able to tolerate heat strain.
Having a lot of water in the body may reduce physical strain if heat stress
occurs during exercise.
2)
HELPS RELIEVE CONSTIPATION
Constipation
is a common problem that is characterized by infrequent bowel movements and
difficulty passing stool. Increasing fluid intake is usually recommended as
part of the treatment protocol, and there are some evidences to back this up.
Low water consumption appears to be a risk factor of constipation in both
younger and older individuals. Increasing hydration may help decrease
constipation.
3)
HELPS IN FUNCTIONING OF THE KIDNEY
Your
kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long
as your intake of fluid is adequate. When you are getting enough fluids, urine
flows freely, light in colour and free of odour but in a case where you
chronically drink too little water, you may be at higher risk of urinary stone.
Urinary
stones are painful clumps of mineral crystals that form in the urinary system.
The most common form is the kidney stones, which form in the kidneys.
Research
has shown that higher fluid intake increases the volume of urine passing
through the kidneys. This dilutes the concentration of minerals, so they are
less likely to crystallize and form clumps.
4)
HELPS CONTROL CALORIES
For
years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy.
While water doesn’t have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for
higher calorie beverages can certainly help.
According
to Penn State researcher Babara Rolls, PhD, what works with weight loss is if
you choose water or a non-caloric beverage over a caloric beverage and/or eat a
diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling and can help
you trim calorie intake.
Foods
with high water content tend to look larger, its higher volume requires more
chewing and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full.
5)
HELPS KEEP SKIN LOOKING GOOD
Your skin
contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent
excessive fluid loss.
Dehydration
makes your skin look more dried and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper
hydration but once you are adequately hydrated, the kidneys take over and
excrete excess fluids.