- The human body is composed of 70% water, in fact, the body’s water supply is involved in nearly every bodily process.Drinking enough water each day is crucial for many reasons: to regulate body temperature, keep joints lubricated, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, and keep organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood.While conventional wisdom tells us to drink 8 glasses of water a day, you should listen to your body. If you exercise or are exposed to excessive heat or humidity the need changes. Stick to clear fluids for every 25kg =1 litre of water. Drink 250ml of water 30 min before you eat not while you eat.Staying hydrated is an essential and often overlooked aspect of maintaining good health. As we age, it’s even more important. Adults 60 and older are at greater risk for dehydration for several reasons, including natural drop in thirst levels and body composition changes. Older adults are also more likely to take diuretics and other medications that cause fluid loss in the body.If you still think you do not need to drink water, here are some benefits of drinking water that hopefully will convince you to make changes in your clear liquid intake.
Hydration
Improved brain performance: Even mild dehydration as little as 2% fluid loss can affect your memory, mood, concentration, and reaction time. Adding just a few glasses of water to your daily intake can have a positive effect on your brain, stabilize your emotions, and even combat feelings of anxiety.
Digestive harmony: Your body needs water to digest food properly. Without enough, you may experience irregular bowel movements, gas, bloating, heartburn, and other discomforts that can hurt your quality of life.
Restore energy: Dehydration can slow down circulation and affect the flow of oxygen to your brain. A lack of fluids can also cause your heart to work harder to pump oxygen all throughout your body. All of that expended energy can make you feel tired, sluggish, and less focused. Simply by drinking more water, you’ll prevent dehydration and have more energy to get you through the day.
Benefits of weight loss: Since it provides a sense of fullness, water can help you feel satisfied in between meals instead of heading to the snack cupboard. It can also help boost your metabolism.
Help with joint pain: Did you know the cartilage in our joints contains approximately 80% water? Staying hydrated helps your joints stay well-lubricated, which helps reduce friction by creating more of a “cushion” between the bones.
Body Temperature regulation: Research shows that when you’re dehydrated, your body stores more heat. Drinking plenty of water helps you to perspire when you’re overheated during activity, which in turn cools your body down. This built-in cooling mechanism is critical in preventing heat stroke and other potentially deadly heat-related conditions.
Prevention of Kidney stones: Kidney stones are clumps of mineral crystals that form in the urinary tract. If you have ever experienced a kidney stone, you know the excruciating pain. Consuming adequate amounts of water each day can help dilute the concentration of minerals in your urinary tract and prevent this painful experience. Water also helps flush harmful bacteria from your bladder and can aid in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Heart health: Your blood is made up largely of water. When you don’t drink enough water, it becomes concentrated, which can cause an imbalance of vital minerals (electrolytes). These minerals, like potassium and sodium, are key factors to the proper functioning of your heart.
Detox: Sufficient water intake supports your body’s natural detoxification systems, which helps to remove waste and harmful substances through urination, breathing, perspiration, and bowel movements. It will enhance your overall health.
Less headaches: Even a mild fluid loss can cause the brain to dehydrate and move away from the skull, leading to headaches and migraines in some individuals. Being consistently well-hydrated may help to prevent headaches and eliminate the need of headache pills.
Compiled by Christa de Villiers
Reference: National council for the aging; The makers diet Jordan S. Ruben; Why hydration is important; Prescription for nutritional healing, James F. Balch, M.D