Water is the magical liquid that fuels our body...
Drinking enough water and staying hydrated is one of the healthiest habits you can adopt. Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.
Dehydration
Some dehydration symptoms are dry mouth, dark urine, fatigue, and headache.
Blood, which is more than 90 percent water, carries oxygen to different parts of the body. In dehydration, when we use and lose more water than the body takes in, blood gets thicker impacting the flow of oxygen to the brain. All those synapses and neurons need liquid to fire properly. Prolonged dehydration can lead to problems with thinking and reasoning.
Also, cell membranes become less permeable, hampering the flow of hormones and nutrients into the cell and preventing waste products that cause cell damage from flowing out. This can lead to an imbalance in the body’s electrolytes which help carry electric signals between cells. As a result your energy is sapped and fatigue takes over. By staying hydrated you stay energized.
What does water do for you?
- Increases energy – relieves fatigue
- Reduces joint pain - Cartilage, found in joints and the disks of the spine, contains around 80 percent water. Long-term dehydration can reduce the joints’ shock-absorbing ability, leading to joint pain.
- Digestive system - The bowel needs water to work properly. Dehydration can lead to digestive problems, constipation, and an overly acidic stomach. This increases the risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers.
- Regulates body temperature - Water that is stored in the middle layers of the skin comes to the skin’s surface as sweat when the body heats up. As it evaporates, it cools the body.
- Flushes toxins from the body’s systems
- Maintains healthy blood pressure
- Respiration - When dehydrated, airways are restricted by the body in an effort to minimize water loss. This can make asthma and allergies worse.
- Contributes to healthy, smooth skin
- Helps absorption of nutrients - Water helps dissolve minerals and nutrients, making them more accessible to the body.
- Essential for healthy kidney function – kidneys regulate bodily fluids and flush out waste products – staying hydrated reduces risk of Urinary Tract Infections and kidney stones
- Weight loss – not hungry but thirsty – drink water instead of snacking- drinking water before a meal makes your stomach feel fuller - eat less
- Reduce effects of hangover – hangovers are partly caused by dehydration
- Water is a main component of saliva which includes small amounts of electrolytes, mucus, and enzymes - essential for breaking down solid food and keeping your mouth healthy.
Recommended intake
The amount of water needed each day varies from person to person, depending on how active they are, their weight, how much they sweat, and so on. It is particularly important to stay well hydrated during intense exercise or high heat.
Below is a guide based on body weight.
Tap water or bottled? Even if the water quality in the area you live is good it may contain undesirable chemicals, so a filter is recommended, either attached to your water supply or use a filter jug. Spring water is the most natural form of water coming from underground sources. Not only is it free of toxins, but also full of minerals like calcium and magnesium that are good for you. The other great advantage is that spring water is naturally alkaline. This is the best type of water recommended by Biomed for maintaining a healthy system.
