Benefits of Drinking Water

Importance of water for weight loss

Most people do not drink enough water; one reason for this is because they have gotten out of the habit. If you are trying to lose weight, drinking plenty of water is very important. Some people abstain from the consumption of sufficient water because they are afraid they will have to run to the bathroom too often. In other words, they are trying to live a life of convenience at the expense of health-a dangerous attitude to take.

We have all heard people say they do not like water and do not drink water, instead they drink all sorts of beverages, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, soft drinks, and alcohol. However, there is no substitute for drinking water. Water purification methods remove bad contaminants.

PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO LIVE A LIFE OF CONVENIENCE AT THE EXPENSE OF HEALTH -A DANGEROUS ATTITUDE TO TAKE.

WATER CONTENT OF VARIOUS BODY PARTS
Bile	86.0%
Blood Plasma	90.0%
Blood Serum	90.7%
Bones	13.0%
Brain	80.5%
Cartilage	55.0%
Gastric Juice	99.5%
Liver	71.5%
Lungs	80.0%
Lymph	94.0%
Muscular Tissue	75.0%
Red Blood Corpuscles	68.7%
Saliva	95.5%
Spleen	75.5%
Teeth	10.0%

SYMPTOMS RELATED TO WATER DEFICIENCY
Allergies	Headaches/Neck Pain
Asthma	Diabetes
Urinary Problems	Colitis
High Blood Pressure	Chronic Constipation
Chronic Fatigue	High Blood Cholesterol
Dry Skin/Chapped Lips	Depression
Rheumatoid Arthritis	Varicose Veins
Hemorrhoids	Muscle Cramps
Dehydration	Water Retention/Edema

Water - The Ultimate Solution?

DISCOVER why water is the most important vital  element on the planet. Why it can be the cure for many of your body's chronic health ailments. Get the FACTS about what type of water is suitable for you.

WATER IS NOT ONLY THE MOST ABUNDANT NUTRIENT FOUND IN THE BODY(ACCOUNTING FOR ROUGHLY 60-70% OF BODY WEIGHT), IT IS ALSO BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF WATER

             Water is essential for proper circulation of nutrients to organs and cells throughout the body.

             Water is essential for removing all toxic wastes from metabolism and the breakdown products of harmful substances that get into our bodies one way or another.

             Water helps to maintain and regulate body temperature.

             Adequate levels of water are important for hydration during exercise and athletic performance.

             Water provides a protective cushion around body organs, such as the brain and spinal cord.

             Lipase, amylase, and protease are hydrolytic enzymes. Water activates enzymes. Without adequate water, enzymes will not function.

             Water loss and lack of replenishment can result in dehydration.

             We lose water through perspiration and elimination (in urine and feces), and some vaporizes out of the lungs.

             Water serves as a lubricant for moving parts such as the joints.

             Water is essential for the peristalsis of the intestines. Insufficient water can cause constipation.

             Water plays an indispensable part in the function of our sense organs. Taste and smell result from the stimulation of chemical compounds in a solution.

             Water is important for moistening the surface of the lungs for gas diffusion.

             The kidneys and liver are both master filters for the body, and especially susceptible to dangerous infections when too little water is taken into the body.

YOUR BODY AND WATER PURIFICATION

             Water is not only the most abundant nutrient found in the body (accounting for roughly two-thirds of body weight, or 60-70%), it is also by far the most important nutrient.

             The average adult body contains 45 quarts of water and loses about 2-3 quarts daily through excretion and perspiration.

             Rate of water loss depends almost entirely upon level of activity and environmental conditions. It may range from 1 quart per day for a sedentary person in a temperate climate to more than 10 quarts per day in a desert.

             More than half the water taken in will be discharged from the kidneys; 17% through the lungs; 4% through the intestines; 25% through the skin.

             The air we exhale is saturated with moisture. Our skin, daily gives off from 1-2 pints of water of invisible perspiration, in the form of sweat during strenuous exercise.

             During exercise you can lose 2-8 pounds in an hour, which would require a compensatory 4-16 cups of water.

SUGGESTED WATER REQUIREMENTS FOUND IN RESEARCH

             8-10 glasses (8 oz.each) per day

             Add an additional 8 ounces for every 25 pounds of excess body fat

             One-half ounce per pound of body weight

             Divide your weight by 2.2 to get the number of ounces of water needed per day

             3 ounces of water for every 100 calories of food consumed

             1 quart of water for each 1000 calories used per day

FAST FACTS ABOUT WATER AND WATER PURIFICATION

             Tap water may contain harmful contaminants. Hundreds of chemicals have been found in drinking water across the U.S.

             Chlorinated drinking water found to increase cancer risk. Chlorine has been cited by a Harvard Medical School study to increase the risk of bowel and bladder cancer 9% and 15% respectively.

             Lead alerts have been issued on tap water by the EPA. In 819 water systems, lead levels were above the EPA "Action Level" of 15 parts per billion.

             Waterborne illnesses are on the rise. Between 1986 and 1988 the Center for Disease Control recorded 26,000 cases of bacteria-related illness from contaminated drinking water.

WATER AND WEIGHT LOSS

The Key to Fat Burning: Keeping the body in a hydrated state. Research shows that increasing the volume of fluid in your body may lead to an increase in fat breakdown. This can be achieved by drinking enough water throughout the day, so that you never approach a dehydrated state. Maintaining the body's water percentage is so important; even if your fluid level drops one percent; dehydration sets in. By the time you feel thirsty, you're already one percent dehydrated. Drinking water keeps your tissues hydrated.

FLUID CONSUMPTION STATISTICS
HYDRATING BEVERAGES	SERVINGS PER DAY(8 OZ.)
Water	4.6
Milk	1.3
Juice	1.4
Soda (no caffeine)	0.6
Total Hydrated Beverages	7.9
DEHYDRATING BEVERAGES	SERVINGS PER DAY(8 OZ.)
Coffee	1.8
Soda (caffeinated)	1.3
Tea	1.0
Wine/Other Alcohol	0.3
Beer	0.5
Total Dehydrated Beverages	4.9

WATER - DETOXIFICATION - WEIGHT LOSS

          Toxins are stored within fat cells in the body.

          As fat cells release this stored energy into the bloodstream, these toxins follow.

          The heart, blood and kidneys are a single functional unit that constantly cleanses and purifies itself, removing all the toxic wastes of metabolism.

          Water is essential for flushing away the body's chemical waste.

          This purification system can operate only if the volume of water flowing through it is sufficient to carry away the chemical waste.

          When there is not sufficient water intake, the liver must do some of the kidney's work.

          One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize fat into usable energy for the body.

          If the liver is involved in additional detoxifying processes, it will metabolize less fat, meaning more fat will remain stored in the body.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF WATER IN WEIGHT LOSS

          The more protein we eat, the more water we need. The use of protein by the cells leaves a waste called urea.

          When burning fat, some of the fat may be burned incompletely. These partially burned fat by-products are called Ketones (or keytones). The more water you drink, the more urine you make, the more keytones will pass out in the urine, the more fat you lose.

          More fiber is needed during weight loss. Fiber helps to absorb toxins and waste products from the body.

          The intestines cannot function normally without water and when more fiber is added, more water is needed.

          Twice as much water is needed to complete digestion in the stomach and in the upper intestine as is contained in the entire bloodstream.

          Alkalizing the body with pure water, lemon and fresh green vegetables will also help to break down the acid deposits (body fat) throughout the body.

          Purification of the body is an electro-chemical process of the living cells. Acid waste products of metabolism must combine with some alkaline minerals, before they can be taken up by the bloodstream and excreted.

          When you exercise, the chemical reaction of muscle movement creates acid waste from the fats and sugars that the body uses as fuel. Water and alkaline minerals are needed to flush these wastes from the system.

          Avoid fluoridated and chlorinated water; both of these chemical inhibit enzymatic functions in the body.

          Research indicated that fluorides decrease the function of the thyroid gland by 30-40%.

          The more glycogen*you store, the more bloated you become. Every single pound of excess glycogen adds 3 pounds of water.

* glycogen: a polysaccharide that is the principal form in which carbohydrates are stored in the body. Stored primarily in the liver and in muscle, glycogen is readily broken down to glucose (simple sugar) when needed in the body.

 

 

KEY TO FAT BURNING: KEEPING THE BODY IN A HYDRATED STATE

EXERCISE AND HYDRATION

          Exercising in the heat, indoors or outdoors, and exercising for a long period of time should alert you to drink more water than your thirst suggests.

          It is common to dehydrate from 2-6% of your body weight during exercise in the heat.

          Plan ahead and drink 16-24 oz. of water 15-20 minutes before you exercise or work outdoors.

          Drinking from a water bottle as you work out or taking frequent small water breaks is recommended, rather than taking one large water break.

          Weigh yourself before and after exercise. Drink 10 oz. of water after exercise for each pound of bodyweight lost.

          Avoid drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol; they increase dehydration.

          Avoid fruit juices or soft drinks; sugar can aggravate dehydration and cause bloating.

          If choosing a sports drink, limit the carbohydrate intake to or less than: 7% (8 grams.) or 50 calories, per 8 oz. serving.

          Sports drinks are generally not necessary unless you are exerting yourself for 90 minutes or more (60 minutes if the activity is intense or the weather is hot).

          Lastly, your body can't process more than 2 litres of water per hour, no matter how dehydrated you are.

Do you need help? Just ask, as a Chartered Herbalist, I specialize in helping people achieve their overall wellness goals. I can help put you on the road to achieving good health and a sense of well-being. I'm here to answer any questions you have and to help you choose the best products.

Article from: http://www.nahanniriverherbs.com/94,178

Benefits of Drinking Water

Understanding Our Thirst

An average individual loses  approximately more than two quarts of water in a single day through our skin by sweat, in our breath, in the urine and in the stool. Now, how are we able to determine if our body needs water? How will we know that we need to take in water in order not to be dehydrated?

Thirst, the basic instinct of humans and animals to drink, is an important mechanism involved in our body’s fluid balance. It has been observed that when we are thirsty our mouth and throat feels exceptionally dry. Generally, it is believed that fluid intake is regulated by central nervous system, in the hypothalamus. It has been found out that if the level of osmolites like salt in the body increases and, or if there is a lack of fluids, the hypothalamus sends thirst messages. After drinking, the chemical balance returns to normal and it signals back to hypothalamus, thus inhibiting the thirst drive.

What will happened if there is no thirst to signal us that our body needs water? Interminable or continual dehydration may cause thousands of problem to our body for we all know that our body is composed of more than 60 percent of water. The most often problems are associated with neurological and kidney problem.

Will you wait until your body will signal you a thirst to take in water for you not to be dehydrated? Why not take an initiative,  a simple schedule when to drink water to attain the 8 glasses requirement of our body will help a lot.

Article from: http://www.familyhealthavenue.com/2009/03/understanding-our-thirst/

Benefits of Drinking Water

Water For Skin Rejuvenation and Beauty

You want to have young, beautiful and radiant skin for free, without any effort and in a natural way? If so, then regularly drink 8-10 glasses of pure water every day. Beauty products may help your skin to look good but a natural glow and radiance of the skin can be achieved only through regular intake of water.

Skin is the largest organ of our body. And, like other organs of our body, it is made up of cells. We all know that cells are made up of water. Loss of water in the body can dehydrate a person and in the long run may lead to health problems and makes one’s skin lack of luster and dull. Lack of hydration may cause the skin cells to become dry, crack, flaky and may change color. Thus, the skin may become itchy, painful and unappealing. Creams and other beauty products may help these concerns but they are just temporary solutions to the real problem. Healing should come from within, and it is by drinking plenty of water.

Drinking water moisturizes your skin from within, and clear up your skin. Water acts as a natural body cleanser as it aids in eliminating toxins and wastes from the body. Along with detoxifying the body, water helps in hydrating, revitalizing and oxygenating the skin thus, resulting to its natural health and wellness that result to glowing and radiant skin. However, the effects will not be noticed immediately. Good effects on the skin can be experienced only when you develop a healthy habit of keeping your body hydrated through regular intake of water.

Water is the best regimen for skin rejuvenation. Together with making your skin smooth and radiant, water helps in preventing premature aging thereby prolonging your youth and beauty.

Article from: http://www.familyhealthavenue.com/2009/03/water-for-skin-rejuvenation-and-beauty/

Benefits of Drinking Water

A Daily Water Intake Reminder

When is the right time to drink the 6-8 glasses of water per day?

Here I am again posting a daily water intake reminder to emphasize the importance of water to the body. An average person should drink 6-8 large glasses of purewater a day, and should be increased when doing physical activity and in other cases that cause excessive loss of water from the body.

A safe guide to know if you have taken enough water is toobserve the color and quantity of urine. Dark colored and excreting urine in small amounts shows concentrated urine, which means there is a shortage of water in the body.

Many people are accustomed to drink iced or cold water. Small sips may not harm you, but quickly taking half a glass or more of iced or cold water may chill the delicate membranes of the stomach thus, hampering the digestion due to decrease the production gastric juice in the stomach.

Drinking half a glass or more of pure water at least 30 minutes before mealtime, during mealtime and, or less than an hour after mealtime may hinder digestion by diluting the gastric juice in the stomach. And, the food within the stomach that is mixed with water tends to pass more rapidly without thoroughly digesting it. But, reasonable quantities of soup or milk can be taken in with food because it contains calories that are taken by stomach as food.

When is the right time to drink the 6-8 glasses of water per day? It is best to drink pure water when stomach is empty, that is at least an hour before, and after a meal. Because, when a stomach is empty, water passes through quickly and is promptly absorbed in the body. We must not wait that our body signals for thirst to drink in pure water. A schedule when to drink water will help you achieve the required amount per day.

Article from: http://www.familyhealthavenue.com/2009/03/a-daily-water-intake-reminder/

Benefits of Drinking Water

Diet, Exercise and Water For A Healthier Body

By Midas on 20th January, 2010 

While other people are struggling to lose some weight, losing weight and maintaining it is so easy for me. It’s just a matter of diets that work, exercise and water intake.

Choosing the kinds of food to eat plays the biggest role. If you love to eat fatty, sweet, preserved and processed foods rather than fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, better not expect to lose some weight.

Yes, you may lose some weight if you just take it in in small amounts but there’s a big tendency for you not to maintain your desired weight. A healthy low-fat and sweets diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and grains could not just help you lose weight but also not to worry about gaining pounds back. You just need to make it part of your lifestyle so as exercise.

Water is of great help too in lossing weight aside from diet that work and exercise. Drinking 1-2 glasses of water at least 30 minutes before meal could make you feel full, making you eat less while it helps your body burn fat more efficiently and wash the toxins out of your body. So, better practice to drink at least 8 glasses of plain water a day.

Article from: http://www.familyhealthavenue.com/category/family-health-and-wellness/importance-of-water-to-health/

Benefits of Drinking Water

Importance of Water

During sweltering summers, it is certainly necessary to keep the body sufficiently hydrated. But the importance of water is often realised only when we are excessively thirsty. However, thirst quenching is just a basic function of water.

Importance of water can be easily understood if we know the vital functions it has in the human body. These include:

It helps with metabolism

Transmitting the nutrients and oxygen in blood cells

Regulating the body temperature

Detoxification

Keeping the skin hydrated and maintaining its suppleness

The human body contains 55 to 78 percent water. Apart from the blood, water is also present in tissues, muscles, bones and brain.

The importance of water for a younger looking skin cannot be ignored. Most women spend huge amounts on artificial cosmetics and other solutions for a better skin. But drinking adequate amount of water can go a long way to actually improve skin quality. Water replenishes the skin tissues and keeps it hydrated, increasing the elasticity and softness of skin.

If you are trying to lose weight, you certainly cannot overlook the importance of water. Drinking good quantities of water can kill the urge to munch between meals. It also helps to flush down the by- products after fat breakdown in the body.

For those who are into strenuous work-outs or regular exercising, the importance of water lies in its ability to regulate the body temperature. It also keeps the muscles and joints lubricated, preventing you from sudden cramps and sprains.

The importance of water also includes its pivotal role in curing ailments such as chronic fatigue, headaches, diabetes, colitis and high blood pressure.

When the body does not get sufficient fluids, it starts deriving the same from the sources within. This depletes the water in the body and in severe cases may lead to dehydration. Chronic dehydration may also cause serious problems of kidney and heart. Indeed the importance of water is also clear from its function in diluting the calcium in urine. If this calcium crystallises, it can form kidney stones in the body.

The importance of water for the vital systems of body and over all well being makes it imperative to consume it in some form or other. On an average the human body needs at least two litres of water daily. Hence 7 to 8 glasses of water must be consumed. In summers or after a work out, when the body starts perspiring, the requirement increases further. Fizzy or alcoholic drinks are not a substitute for water. Some quantity of water can be derived from fruit juices and fresh vegetables in salads such as cucumber, carrots, lettuce and tomatoes.

While understanding the importance of water, it must also be remembered that plain water must be taken in it purest form. Water must be filtered to ensure the removal of all impurities before consumption.

To ensure a balanced diet, we plan food from all groups for adequate nutrition. But the importance of water must not be overlooked as it is this fluid that largely helps in the utilisation of all primary nutrients.

Article from: http://www.diet-tree.com/importance-of-water.php