Conventional wisdom dictates that people should consume at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily for good health, which makes sense in light of the fact that the human body is made up of about 75 percent water. But the importance of adequate water intake extends far beyond just avoiding dehydration as clean water may be perhaps the most important “nutrient” for effective detoxification and cancer prevention.
From the perspective of healthy digestion, water is critical to keep things moving. It pushes food along through the intestinal tract while helping to keep the gut lubricated and flexible. Water also helps flush toxins from the digestive tract, preventing their buildup and any resultant disease, most notably cancer of the colon.
Water also provides nourishment for the body’s cellular system, serving as a primary foundational component of the very structure of cells. Everything from body temperature to nutrient synthesis to toxin elimination to joint maintenance is regulated by cells, which absolutely must have optimal water intake in order to perform such duties in the interest of life.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), water creates saliva used for digestion, maintains proper membrane moisture levels, promotes the growth, survival, and reproduction of cells; flushes waste (mainly in the form of urine), and lubricates joints. It also aids in the manufacture of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain, controls body temperature through sweating and respiration, protects the structural integrity of the brain and spinal cord, converts and breaks down food for nutrition, and delivers oxygen throughout the body.
Water and Cancer Prevention
Water also helps protect the vital organs, specifically bladder, colon, and breast tissue, against cancer. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reveals that water intake is inversely related to each of these types of cancer; meaning the more water a person drinks, the less likely he or she is to develop these potentially fatal conditions.
Israeli researchers evaluated a series of studies looking at fluid intake in relation to cancer and discovered that maintaining optimal hydration is essential for thwarting this increasingly common disease. One study identified a statistically significant correlation between high fluid intake and decreased risk of bladder cancer among nearly 50,000 participants.
“When fluid intake was modeled as a continuous variable, the risk of bladder cancer decreased by 7% for every increment of 240 mL in daily fluid intake,” the study review explains. “Study participants in the highest quintile of fluid intake had a 49% lower incidence of bladder cancer than those in the lowest quintile.”
Corresponding research identified elevated fluid intake as a detractor in the risk of adenocarcinoma of the colon in middle-aged men and women. Participants who drank at least five glasses of water daily were found to have a significantly reduced risk of colon cancer compared to those who drank two glasses of water or less daily.
“This suggests that increased water intake may have an important role in reducing colon cancer risk by decreasing bowel transit time, reducing the mucosal contact with carcinogens, and decreasing the concentration of carcinogens,” reports the Journal of Clinical Oncology paper.
Most people don’t realize that a deficiency in this key “nutrient” can cause so many ailments, including cancer. Are you drinking enough water, and doing so every day? Share this with friends to make sure they do!