They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what do eight glasses
of water do for us? Stomach bloating aside, water does make several
important contributions to the body. Almost every cell requires it to function
properly and virtually every metabolic process thirsts for it. Roughly 55% to
75% of the human body is composed of water, and considering we lose about eight
cups a day through breathing, sweating and bathroom breaks, it is critical to continually
replenish the ingredient that makes your body go. Here are five things you
didn’t know about water that will encourage you to finally start drinking those
eight glasses a day.
1. It improves mental
performance
If you can’t remember what was written in the introduction
of this article, your brain might be parched. Since approximately 80% of brain
tissues is made of water, it is critical
to keep your brain hydrated. Clinical tests have shown that dehydration
decreases the performance of short-term memory and impairs concentration. The
logic is fairly basic: Subtract the main ingredient from your brain and you
will have functional problems. It’s like driving a car without oil. In the
brain, water thins the fluids that carry proteins and enzymes, and helps
deliver these nutrients to their destination. When the body is dehydrated,
these fluids are slower to make their
rounds and mental performance is directly affected. Water also flushes the
brain of free radicals, which damage cell architecture and further undermine
operation.
2. It can prevent
critical ailments
Arthritis, cancer
and heart disease are serious illnesses that affect millions of people, but you
can possibly avoid being part of those statistics by drinking water. The clear
stuff is a key constituent in cartilage, the spongy material that serves as
padding where bones meet, and synovial fluid, the liquid around the joints that
lubricates the area and works as a shock absorber. When there’s water aplenty,
there is less friction around the joints, and therefore less arthritis. Also,
when there’s plenty of water in our
system- although it means we’re often running to the little boys’ room the body is being flushed of toxins. By
reducing the amount of time that these toxins spend in contact with our colons
and bladders, we decrease the chance of developing cancer. Water can make you
rich and famous! Well, not quite, but check out these three other health
benefits…
Not only does water
help transport the toxins out of our system, but it also cleanses the body of
excessive salt. Several studies have linked high levels of salt high blood
pressure, and high blood pressure to numerous heart disorders. Even bouts of
heartburn can be prevented by ensuring that the digestive system is always
properly hydrated. As water passes in and out of the body, it prevents malevolent buildups that can lead
to either a minor bug like a cold or a major malady like stroke or cancer.
3. It can help you
lose weight
Hungry? Try filling
your stomach with a glass of H2O. It contains no calories or fat, and it is a
proven appetite suppressant. More importantly, that glass of water can speed up
your metabolism. Considering that nearly every process that takes place in the
body requires water, it is simple to understand how everything slows down when
your body is thirsty. Pouring in cup of water like shifting your car into a
higher gear: More water means a faster
metabolism, which burns calories at an accelerated rate. Studies have shown that after ingesting two
cups of water, it takes 10 minutes to 40 minutes to kick-start your metabolism.
Once it’s going, however, you’ll burn
calories at a 30% faster rate. One study
estimates that increasing water consumption by six cups a day would result in
an average loss of 5.3 pounds of fat over the course of a year. Who
says there are no shortcuts to losing weight?
4 .It washes away cavities
They say a smile is worth a million bucks and it doesn’t
cost cent. Well, the upkeep of your precious pearly whites is also more than
affordable. We know that keeping your innards irrigated helps produce several
important body fluids – including saliva, which wards off cavities.
Tooth decay stems from a buildup of acid, which
eats away at tooth enamel, but saliva neutralizes this acid. It also
contains special minerals that aid in tooth repair. As long as the body is
hydrated – and you aren’t cramming too much candy into your mouth – you will
have enough saliva to win the and keep
your teeth protected.
5. Drinking too much
of it can lead to over hydration
It’s important to take your daily dose of water, but there’s
no need to go overboard. Just think of it this way: Replenish the water that
you lose. A regular person loses about two to three glasses of water through
regular breathing and another one through sweating. Factor in a couple of
bathroom breaks and a workout, and the body is already down eight glasses for
the day. Focus on replacing the water that has been used. If you are planted on
the couch watching Seinfeld reruns, don’t drown your insides. Overdosing occurs
when you drink a lot more water than your body is expelling. When that occurs,
the levels of sodium in your body become
unbalanced, which can lead to digestive problems, seizures or even coma. But
don’t panic: A healthy adult would have to regularly consume about two gallons
of water a day to become over hydrated.
Drink up—What peanuts are to peanut butter and oranges are
to orange juice, water is to the human body. So make sure your body is replete
with water and don’t hesitate to drink to your health.
Resources: http://www.askmen.com
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