We all know that water is good for us as over 60% of the
body is made up of water. Many people know that they should be drinking plenty
of water but find it a hard habit to form. People tend to avoid drinking water
as they find it tasteless and boring to drink so they end up drinking coffee,
tea, sodas and alcohol, amongst many other possibilities. Consequently, there
is then not enough of a water intake and the body becomes dehydrated, which is
not good at all for our health.
As mentioned 60% of the adult body weight is made up of
water. Water provides the right conditions for the function of all your bodily
organs and it is important that lost water is replaced to maintain cell and
blood structure. Water is lost from our bodies through urine, faeces,
evaporation through the skin (sweat) and expired breath. Even without moving
around or exercising we lose 2 – 2.5 litres per day via these routes.
So it is extremely important that you replace any lost water
and KEEP YOURSELF FULLY HYDRATED.
Hydration is a vital key to a healthy lifestyle and here are 9 great reasons
why you should be drinking water regularly throughout the day:
1. WEIGHT
LOSS - Water is one of the best tools for weight loss, first of all because
it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda, juice or alcohol with a drink
that doesn't have any calories. But it's also a great appetite suppressant, and
often when we think we're hungry, we're actually just thirsty. Water has no
fat, no calories, no carbs and no sugar. Drinking plenty of water can only help
towards your weight-loss goals.
2. HEALTHY
HEART - Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart
attack. A six-year study published on the 1st May 2002 in the American
Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water
a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack than those who drank less
than two glasses.
3. ENERGY
- Being dehydrated can sap your energy and make you feel tired, even mild
dehydration of as little as 1 or 2% of your body weight. If you're thirsty,
you're already dehydrated and this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness,
dizziness and many other symptoms.
4. HEADACHE
CURE - Another symptom of dehydration is headaches. In fact, often when we
have headaches it's simply a matter of not drinking enough water. There are
lots of other causes of headaches of course, but dehydration is a common one.
5. HEALTHY
SKIN - Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a
healthy glow after drinking water. It won't happen overnight, of course, but
just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your
skin.
6. DIGESTIVE
PROBLEMS - Our digestive systems need a good amount of water to digest food
properly. Often water can help cure stomach acid problems, and water along with
fibre can cure constipation (often a result of dehydration).
7. CLEANSING
- Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from
the body.
8. CANCER
RISK - Related to the digestive system item above, drinking a healthy
amount of water has also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%.
Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50% and
potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.
9. BETTER
EXERCISE - Being dehydrated can severely hamper your athletic activities,
slowing you down and making it harder to lift weights. Exercise requires
additional water, so be sure to hydrate before, during and after exercise.
How much water should
you drink?
It depends on your bodyweight but as a general rule:
·
Inactive person: 2.0 to 2.5 litres per day
·
Active person: 4.0 to 4.5 litres per day
So it is even more important to monitor your water intake if
you are exercising regularly. Dehydration affects the building of body tissues,
temperature regulation and metabolic rate. Dehydration can lead to fatigue,
headaches, lack of concentration and constipation; and just 10% dehydration can
be FATAL!
Just remember folks, get into the habit of drinking plenty
of water and STAY HYDRATED! Being hydrated really is the single most important
factor to a healthier lifestyle.
Rich Palmer
PT
Personal Trainer Sutton Coldfield
“making your
fitness goals a reality”
No comments:
Post a Comment