The Benefits of Water

Sharita Warfield

Many tend to forget that our bodies are primarily composed of water. At least 60 to 70 percent of the human body is H2O. Without water, our bodies would not be able to function properly because all of our organs need water to performThat is why it is extremely important to replenish our bodies by drinking an adequate amount of water daily. Don’t get me wrong – there is no set amount about how much water should we drink. But, many experts suggest that an average of eight 8-ounce glasses should be drinking on a daily basis. That is a total of 64-ounces. I know that seems like a lot to you, RIGHT? But it is onlyfour 16-ounce bottles of water or approximately the same amount of a 2-liter soda.

Drinking water in large amounts has many benefits which include helping with weight loss, relieving constipation, helping to treat kidney stones, hangover relief, minimizing severe headaches, maximizing physical performance, improving your complexion, and helping your body to produce saliva and mucus. To help you get the gist of water’s function in each process, I have broken down the benefits into further details:

 

WEIGHT LOSS

Working on losing weight, then this information is just right for you. Drinking ENOUGH water helps during the weight loss process. Having a glass of water before food increases satiety. This means that you are less likely to overeat during a given meal. When you drink water between meals, it also helps to reduce your appetite. So, the need to snack is curved, and you are less likely to indulge in unhealthy eating habits. The biggest benefit is that it boosts your metabolism. Many studies have shown that if 2-liters of water is consumed in a day, then a person can easily burn 96 calories.

Relieving Constipation

The primary cause of constipation is dehydration. Drinking enough water prevents large amounts of water from withdrawing from the colon. This allows your stool to retain water and remain soft. Soft stool makes for a smoother bowel movement.

Treating Kidney Stones

Trouble with kidney stones? You should increase your water intake as it can help you to prevent kidney stones. When your body becomes dehydrated, it impacts your kidneys by allowing minerals and chemicals to crystallize in the urine. The masses then increase in size and travel up the urinary tract and can sometimes get stuck, blocking the flow of urine through the body. This, in turn, leads to excruciating pain as your body tries to rid itself of the stones.

Increasing your water intake will not only help to dilute the minerals, but it will prevent the crystallization or the forming of the kidney stones, which can travel into your urinary system.

Hangover Prevention

A fun-filled night of drinking with friends can lead to some serious repercussions. The dreadful Hangover! Many people who drink have experienced some symptoms of a hangover, and they are nothing we want to remember. Filling yourself with large amounts of alcohol causes your body to lose more water. This can lead to dehydration, which results in fatigue, headaches, excessive thirst, dizziness, and more. However, if you were to consume the amount of water that your body requires regularly, it would help to alleviate some of the symptoms.

Preventing Severe Headaches

Ever get an uncontrollable tightening sensation in your head and reach for the nearest bottle of pain pills? Well, what if there were a more straightforward way to relieve the pain or even prevent the headaches from occurring staring you in the face? Drink more water! Most headaches like migraines are caused by simple dehydration. Dehydration leads to dilated blood vessels and prevents the right amount of blood and oxygen from reaching the brain. Consuming more water will enhance the performance of the human brain and prevent headaches caused by dehydration.

Maximizing Physical Performance

Don’t get burnt out before you begin. The loss of 2 percent of water from the human body can trigger symptoms of dehydration. This can lead to a feeling of fatigue, dry mouth, and demotivation. Water is an important part of maximizing your physical performance. If the human body is dehydrated, then it does not have the strength and energy to carry out physical tasks. So, drinking water before and during any physical activities helps your body to replenish the fluids that you sweat out.

Improving Skin Complexion

Your skin is the largest organ on your body. Just like any organ, it is made up of water-based cells. The skin you love acts as a protective barrier between your body and any harsh elements in the environment. But like all organs, the cells that form the skin need to be replenished. Drinking water improves skin complexion. It makes your skin soft, clear, and smooth. With proper hydration, your skin will remain supple.

Producing Saliva and Mucus

Dry eyes and throat? Maybe you should increase your water intake. Water is essential for the production of saliva and mucus. Saliva aids in the digestion process by lubricating the throat so that food is easily swallowed. It also contains enzymes that help to breakdown certain starches before they even reach your stomach. Mucus, on the other hand, keeps our eyes and nose moist. Mucus helps prevent damage that can be caused if someone has dry eyes or nose.

Water has many benefits. No matter which stands out the most to you they are all equally important to improving your health. Now that you have been armed with this knowledge, let’s work together to start living a healthier life by first increasing our daily water intake.

 

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