More Reasons to Drink Water

[Sarrazanna]

You probably have heard many times that water is good for you. But do you know exactly HOW it is good for you? You may know some of the ways, but for those who aren't 'in the know' I decided to post a few facts about water and the benefits.

Water's role in the body includes the following:
* Transporting nutrients and oxygen throughtout the body
* Converting food into energy
* Regulating body temperature
* Flushing out toxins and body wastes
* Moistening the tissues of the eyes, nose, and mouth
* Cushioning and lubricating joints and internal organs
* Assisting the passage of substances between cells and blood vessels.

- Dehydration causes muscle breakdown
- water plays a large role in regulating weight - it helps you stave off hungers pangs and helps you burn fat!
- The kidneys filter and remove waste from your body. If you are dehydrated, they have a tough time doing their job effectively, so they ask you liver to help out. One of liver's functions is to burn fat, which it can't do as well when it's working overtiem to assist stressed out kidneys.

Scary Facts:
* A large part of the population is chronically running low on fluids.
* about 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

Side affects of not getting enough water include:
- Kidney Damage and your blood gets 'dirty'
- Joint problems caused by not enough lubrication
- Muscle weakness
- Digestive problems
- Impaired brain function - brain tissue contains the most water of any part of the boyd at around 85%
- Back pain - spine relies on water stored in its discs between its joints.


Anyway... I hope that I have managed to convince you that drinking water is very important for your health, and should not be overlooked and forgotten.

How much should you be drinking?
You need to replace the water that you lose during the day through urine, perspiration and breathing. To just replace this, you need to drink 8 glasses of water, more when exercising or when you are in hot, humid conditions.

Working it in
If you are not used to drinking much water, drinking 8 glasses a day, may seem like a daunting task. Here are some tips for working water into your diet.
* Begin and end your day with water. Your body loses water when you sleep.
* Take a bottle of water with you wherever you go.
* If you drink a lot of fruit juice, try cutting your juice with water to 50/50 concentration.
* Substitute herbal teas for caffeinated drinks. Since it's not caffeinated, it counts towards your daily water requirement.
Until you get used to increased water intake, you may need to go to the bathroom more often. Try to drink water throughout the day instead of all in one go.

[madeupgirl]

Thanks Sarrazanna. Even though most of us know the importance of drinking enough water we DO need constant reminding....

[Ocean]

I am a huge water fan! This is great information on why drinking water is soooo important for the body. And it is true that drinking 8 or more glasses a day will seem daunting in the beginning but you will quickly become adjusted to it. An easy method for keeping track of how much water you are drinking in a day is to premeasure 8 glasses of water into it's own container and put it into the fridge. Just drink all your water from it and you will not have to count glasses during the day. Thanks again for the great info Sarrazanna!

[Scully]

thanks! I am pouring myself a glass right now!

[Rose]

I saw on another thread a piece of advice saying how we should drink 2 glasses of water just before bed, which I have been doing for the past two or so months (more or less), but I stopped when I was on holiday, and was amazed at how dry my skin was when I didn't drink so much water. Water is possibly the best moisturiser I have used, because it moisturises from the inside. i strongly recommend drinking 2 glasses before bed every night.

[-x-bubblegum-x-]

I have researched and found some more.

Water relieves/prevents:
- lower back pain
- headaches
- migraines
- asthma
- allergies
- depression
- cholesterol
- hangovers
- neck pain
- muscle pain
- joint pain
- bloating
- constipation
- ulcers
- low energy levels
- stomach pain
- confusion
- disorientation

Maintains:
- muscle tone
- weight loss
- clear and healthy skin

[Sarrazanna]

thanks for the extra info bubblegum!

[horse_luver]

Eww, i hate water!!! lol, but i am going to try to drink more, starting tomorrow!

[-x-bubblegum-x-]

Good girl horse_luver! Water rocks! Your body will thank you for driking more water.

[Rose]

apparently, if you have had a lot of alcohol, drink lots of water before you go to bed, and that reduces the chances of a hangover the next day.
-
I don't drink or anything, so i wouldn't know if this works, but it makes sense, because you mainly get hangovers from being very dehydrated, so i guess thats how it works.