Water is one of the basic building blocks of life.
We can’t live without it and yet, many of us do to some extent. Not getting enough water is a problem for the body.
So, are you drinking enough every day?
Water is a component of just about every cell in the body, with the body being composed of about 60% water.
Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids.
The cells in your body depend on water to move nutrients in and out of the bloodstream. The blood depends on it for volume.
Cells that don't maintain their fluid and electrolyte balance
shrivel resulting in muscle fatigue.
The kidneys use it to filter out toxins from the body.
Water even helps the gastrointestinal tract and will aid with constipation.
Without water, the body soon begins to shut down. You can go several weeks without food.
The body will use the fat stores to compensate if necessary.
Without water, things go haywire after only a few days.
When you drink water it is like giving your body an internal shower.
All systems are bathed in this life-giving fluid. Your organs can operate at optimal levels
when you are getting enough water for daily activities.
Lack of water is called dehydration, and many people are on the verge of dehydration.
With your skin as the largest organ in your body, and on the outside of the body, it is a
good place to check for dehydration.
Dehydration can make your skin look dry, wrinkled, lacking shine and tone.
If that sounds like your skin it may just be because there is not enough water nourishing it.
When you wait until you are thirsty to drink, you have already passed the point of thirst.
Regular intake of fluids increases thirst so you want to drink more. If you have noticed,
when you wait too long, your lips can become dry or pasty depending on the situation.
You may even feel light-headed or nauseous due to lack of proper fluid intake in your system.
So what is proper fluid intake?
Eight glasses a day is a start. For men, consuming closer to twelve glasses is more accurate.
As for women, eight to ten is a good start. But, you can always drink more. In fact,
if you exercise a lot or have a very physical job where you are sweating, replacing
that fluid loss is crucial.
To ensure that you are getting enough water, start by replacing what you have lost.
Not only do you sweat but you also urinate. Replace cup for cup to meet the basic needs of the body, but drink more for optimum function.
And, if you don’t like water, infuse your water with some fruit or herbs, and keep in mind there are lots of foods that are high in water like...
cucumber, lettuce, celery, radishes, peaches, plums, apricots, oranges, tomatoes, green peppers, cauliflower, watermelon, spinach, apples, pineapple, star fruit, strawberries, broccoli, grapefruit, cantaloupe, zucchini.
How much water are you drinking? Chances are it is not enough.
Water does a body good!