Are You Drinking Enough Water?

We use water everyday. We drink it, wash with it, cook with it, but do you realize just how important water is to maintain our bodies and health?

Are you drinking enough water? I had learned the hard way. When I was ill a few months back, I became seriously dehydrated and let me tell you, it is not a good feeling. Drinking water may get overlooked with the amount of coffee, tea or soda people drink during the day. Even though coffee or tea is made up of water, the caffeine blocks the benefits of water reaching the areas of our bodies which need water.

I was told to keep my body properly hydrated, I should drink a glass of water at every meal and one between each. I have been making a conscious effort to drink as much water throughout the day as I could. I never want to experience being dehydrated again.

Read below some water facts. Some may surprise you.

* Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water.

*At birth, water accounts for approximately 80 percent of an infant’s body weight.

* A healthy person can drink about three gallons (48 cups) of water per day.

* Drinking too much water too quickly can lead to water intoxication. Water intoxication occurs when water dilutes the sodium level in the bloodstream and causes an imbalance of water in the brain.

* Water intoxication is most likely to occur during periods of intense athletic performance.

*While the daily recommended amount of water is eight cups per day, not all of this water must be consumed in the liquid form. Nearly every food or drink item provides some water to the body

* By the time a person feels thirsty, his or her body has lost over 1 percent of its total water amount.

* The weight a person loses directly after intense physical activity is weight from water, not fat.

* Water is absolutely essential to the human body’s survival. A person can live for about a month without food, but only about a week without water.

* Water helps to maintain healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite.

* Water leads to increased energy levels. The most common cause of daytime fatigue is actually mild dehydration.

* Drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease the risk of certain types of cancers, including colon cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer.

* For a majority of sufferers, drinking water can significantly reduce joint and/or back pain.

* Water leads to overall greater health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that can cause disease.

* Water can prevent and alleviate headaches.

* Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance.

* Water aids in the digestion process and prevents constipation.

* Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circulation.

* 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

* In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak
that it is mistaken for hunger.

* Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

* One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

* A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.


Source: allaboutwater.org