It is said that water is life. I agree 101%.
71% of the world is covered in water, water, water everywhere!
60% of an adult’s body is made up of water.
The importance of drinking water regularly can never be over emphasized. The human body needs sufficient supply of water every day to run its complex bio-chemistry that sustains its ginormous mechanism, (for lack of a better jargon.)
Being thirsty is an alarm to the body that things are not good and a refill in necessary.
Like any other habit, taking water regularly can be learned and be self- trained.
And yes, for many people it has become necessary to train themselves on basic things such as taking water. I have had to constantly remind myself that I have to get a glass of water. This is mostly the case in areas that experience low temperatures. In hotter places the urge to take in more water is almost instinctive, though you will find that some will take cold refreshments such as sodas instead.
Have you ever been so busy that couldn’t remember the last time you took a glass of water? It happens more often than you can imagine.
You can stay alive longer without food but not without water. See the facts below.
Reports from the 1981 hunger strike by political prisoners against the British presence in Northeast Ireland indicated that 10 individuals died after periods of between 46 and 73 days without food.]-Scientific American
The maximum time an individual can go without water seems to be a week, an estimate that is based on observations of people at the end of their lives, when food and water intake has been stopped -Randall K. Packer, a professor of biology at George Washington University told Maggie Fox of NBC News in 2013.
The benefits of regularly taking water are numerous and some of us know them by heart. However here is a recap of some of them:
- Energy Re-charge
When thirsty and tired, a glass of water rejuvenates us and gets us feeling energized and ready for the next task.
- Weight loss
Water can be used as an appetite depressant as it has no calories and fills up the belly. I personally used this method among others when cutting down on my weight. I would take a glass of water just before a meal and it would trick my belly into assuming that I was full and I would end up eating less quantity than I used to.
- Stress and Headache relief
Studies have shown that our brains contain 70-80% water and when dehydrated the functioning is hampered and stress follows .Stress is medically defined as the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts. Even positive life changes such as a promotion, a mortgage, or the birth of a child produce stress-cleveland clinic
Lack of water brings about the same or similar symptoms and can be remedied by drinking water.
- Improved fitness
For the muscle heads and the runners and joggers or just fitness enthusiasts, water is and should be part and parcel of the work out routines. It helps to lubricate the joints and in preventing muscle cramps.
As you exercise you lose a lot of water that needs to be replaced immediately.
- Better skin
Water hydrates skin and gives it a natural glow. Water keeps the cells underneath the skin lubricated and nourished. Water also flushes out toxins and improves cellular and blood flow within the body helping to cool off the body when need be.
- Regular digestion
Regular bowel movement and a peaceful digestion is made possible when there is enough water in the body to help in moving digestive enzymes where they are needed for a complete digestion of food. When having stomach upset, try taking plenty of water and wait for the results, 80% relief is guaranteed.
As always when the symptoms persist seek medical advice.
- Saves you money
Water is cheap compared to the many soft drink varieties that we like indulge in. Nothing quenches thirst like a good old glass of cold water. It works every time.
Have you ever had an expensive meal and right after craved for a glass of water like the meal didn’t even matter?
Try taking a soda when thirsty, you will have done nothing to your body- actually you will have dehydrated it further and the sugar in these drink will dissolve more water and leave none or little for other bodily functions.
- Prevention of Kidney stones among other diseases
Anyone who is diagnosed with kidneys stones always get the following rap from the doctors ‘’too much alcohol or sodas and plenty of salt with little water intake’’
The function of the kidney is to purify blood .The kidneys acts as a sieve and if not well ‘watered’ it will collect a lot of residue forming stone like particles that will block its function and this can be deadly.
I started by saying that drinking water needs to be trained into us. As adults we can get busy and snack a lot without taking water. Grabbing a quick soda comes easy.
I have had to schedule time to drink water even if I didn’t feel thirsty. You can also warm the water before taking it (assuming you are in an area with lower temperatures). The best way is to have a bottle of water on your desk if at work or a glass of water on the dining table as a reminder or to have reminders on their gadgets on when the next dosage of water is to be ‘administered’.
We are all lazy and sometime the act of going to a water dispenser to pour yourself a glass seems like an arduous task to say the least. So I repeat have a glass or bottle close by for re-hydration.
So guys let's drink up, you never know what potential ailment you might be keeping at bay.
And yes, in case you were wondering, there is such a thing as drinking too much water. The medical term is hyponatremia, or water intoxication…..but that’s a subject for another day.
Conclusion: moderation is the key.
