The Life Enhancing Benefits of Water

The Life Enhancing Benefits of Water

The simple act of drinking enough of a quality source of filtered water will greatly support optimal health. Water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body, and without it, humans would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. Pretty scary statistic for a developed country, where water is readily available through the tap or bottle.

Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs. So it only makes sense that drinking adequate water supports optimal health.

How much water do we need? A good estimate is half your body weight. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. If you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day.

An easy way to track that you are drinking the proper amount of water each day is to start with a container that holds two liters of water as a base line. Remember your total weight, exercise levels and climate all play factors. Keep water handy by having a container of water with you at all times, in the car when you travel, at work and of course at home. I find just keeping a glass of water with me in my home office and of course a full glass of water on my bed stand prior to retiring. Living in Arizona requires drinking more water due to our dry climate.

Some of the important functions that water serves in our bodies are:

Water serves as a lubricant

Water forms the base for saliva

Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.

Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.

Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste- the best detox agent.

Regulates metabolism

Endocrine-gland function improves

Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost

More fat is use as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat

Natural thirst returns

There is a loss of hunger almost overnight

Weight Management

In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50% and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer. And those are just a few examples! Think of water as part of your body’s immune system. Sufficient water allows you to cleanse out the toxins.

Proper water intake can even contribute to permanent weight loss. Water also suppresses the appetite and helps the body to metabolize stored fat. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. Water also helps you maintain proper muscle tone and proper hydration also contributes to beautiful skin.

So here’s drinking to our health and it’s life enhancing benefits.