7 interesting benefits of drinking plenty of water

Overview:

You hear everyone say it's important to stay hydrated- but what is the reason?

Before you read on, take some time to see some interesting facts about water:

•Drinking water regularly can help you lose weight

•The adult human is made up of 60 percent water and the blood 90 percent water.

•70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water.

•There is no universally agreed standard of daily consumption of water.

•Regular consumption of water can help improve kidney function and overall body function.

•Not drinking enough water can lead to wrinkling and other skin disorders.

Drinking water regularly comes with a lot of benefits but why do we neglect it so much? Could this be due to its ubiquitous nature?

Nutritionists say that drinking enough water, or staying hydrated, is the first rule of health and nutrition. The human body can supposedly last weeks without food and yet just a few days without water. This makes much sense when you think of the fact that our bodies are made up of about 60 percent water and that being dehydrated can affect us both physically and mentally.

Benefits of drinking plenty of water:

•It reduces the risk of bladder infections:

Some studies have shown that drinking plenty of water can reduce the risk of bladder infections and urinary tract infections(UTIs), such as cystitis, in women.

•It improves memory and mood:

Research has shown that even mild dehydration can lead to impairment of memory and mood in everyone across age groups; children to the elderly. Drinking plenty of water improves our alert, mood, focus and short term memory.

•It regulates body temperature:

Staying hydrated helps to maintain optimal body temperature. Your body loses water through sweat during physical activity and in hot environments which helps you keeps your body cool, but if you don't stay hydrated, your body temperature will rise as a result of not replacing the water lost. This is because your body loses electrolytes and plasma when it’s dehydrated. So, if you’re sweating more than usual, make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

•It helps to improve physical activity:

During physical activity, drinking plenty of water is essential. We perspire 6 to 10 times more during strenuous exercise. Hydration also aids your power, strength and endurance. Athletes who participate in high endurance activities like basketball will understand the value of hydration. The negative effects of exercise in the heat without enough water can include serious medical conditions, such as decreased blood pressure and hyperthermia. Extreme dehydration can lead to seizures and even death.

•It aids digestion:

Many people complain of indigestion, a packed tummy and inability to pass out the faecal matter but fail to do the single most important thing, which is drinking plenty of water alongside food when we are eating.

•It helps to boost energy:

Taking water may activate your metabolism and high metabolism will lead to a high energy level. A study found that drinking 500 millilitres of water boosted the metabolic rate by 30 per cent in both men and women. These effects appeared to last over an hour.

•It helps to fight off illness:

Drinking enough water can help prevent certain medical conditions; such as constipation, hypertension, kidney stones, exercise-induced asthma, urinary tract infection.

Water also helps the body absorb important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from food, which will increase your chances of staying healthy.

How much water should we drink?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the general recommendation for adults is to drink at least 2 litres of water per day. However, for those with physical jobs, exercising or living in hot climates, more is needed – up to 4 litres or more. Children should also drink at least 2 litres of safe water per day.

Conclusion:

Water makes up a majority of your body weight and is involved in many important functions in the body like flushing out waste, regulating body temperature and helping brain function. While beverage consumption is good, nothing can replace the water in our diet.

What other ways do you think water is important to your body?

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