The benefits of drinking a LOT of water

Okay, so nowadays water is not in. There's Cha Time, Quickly, Gong Cha, Starbucks, Baskin 31 Robbins, Dairy Queen, Coke, Gatorade and all those fake tea, sweet sodas and shakes you can think of. They're everywhere. And they're all tempting us.

Let's face it. Every time we feel thirsty, the least thing we want to drink is water. Well if not all of us, then most of us. We think that health drinks and protein shakes make the most to build our muscles and cleanse our intestines; and fancy tea and cold coffee would simply comfort us from the excruciating heat---but little did we know that these 'agent' drinks should be the least in the health list.

I noticed this photo just a few weeks ago from a friend who shared it on Facebook (I'm talking about you, Tessa!), and it did shock me. Well this truth is not something new, but a reminder to all of us. In fact, I am actually proud to say that I am a water fan. I rarely drink sugary liquids to begin with, and if I remember the only health drink that I love to gobble up is Milo.

So before I go to a lesser topic, let me share to you some facts why water is YET the best drink to obtain for our healthy living.

So WHY water?

The functions of water in human body are vital. The water:

• Transports nutrients and oxygen into cells
• Moisturizes the air in lungs
• Helps with metabolism
• Protects our vital organ
• Helps our organs to absorb nutrients better
• Regulates body temperature
• Detoxifies
• Protects and moisturizes our joints

Every cell in your body needs water from head to toe. That is why it is so important to drink enough fluid. Take for example, brain consists of 90% of water, if you do not supply enough water to your body, your brain cannot function well, and you will get headache or migraine. Hence, next time, if you feel fatigue and headache, it may be the sign of dehydration.

Now let me ask you--how many times do you drink water? 3 glasses a day? One small mineral bottle a day? Or only when you feel like it/remember it? If we tend to not prioritize our habit in drinking the cleanest liquid, chances are, we suffer these deficiencies:

Tiredness

Migraine

Constipation

Muscle cramps

Irregular blood pressure

Kidney problems

Dry skin

20% dehydrated – Risk of death

S0 when do we know if we are already at risk and near dehydration? Here are some of the symptoms that you need more water:

• Dark Urine – Dark Yellow or Orange in Color: Urine is generally pale yellow to clear when you have sufficient water intake. Dark color or strong smell indicates that you need to drink more water.
• Dry Skin: Skin is the largest body organ and requires its share of water.
• Thirst: Thirst is the most obvious sign that you're already dehydrated. It is always a good practice to drink more water when your are not thirsty, don’t wait until you're thirsty.
• Hunger: Most people mistake hunger for the indication to eat more, whereas in actual fact, they may be dehydrated. So before you have your meal, grab a glass of water.
• Fatigue: Water is a source of energy and gives you a boost in energy.

How much water should you drink a day to avoid dehydration? A common approach is drinking 8 glasses of water a day, is it sufficient?

Personally, I drink water as much as I can drink it. My measurements are how much energy and calories I take out from my body. The more I sweat, or the more body movements I make, the more glasses of water I take. And since I am addicted to salty foods (like chips, instant noodles, dried goods and fast foods) I drink a lot more water than I used to several years ago. And as funny as it sounds, I also measure the amount of water I take by looking at my urine. I make sure every time I go to the toilet my urine should be clear. And when I see a yellowish color, I get back to drinking more water.

So what can we get from water aside from peeing a lot?

You will be amazed of the benefits of drinking water as follow:

1. Lose weight: Drinking water helps you lose weight because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking water reduces hunger, it’s an effective appetite suppressant so you’ll eat less. Plus, water has zero calories.
2. Natural Remedy for Headache: Helps to relieve headache and back pains due to dehydration. Although many reasons contribute to headache, dehydration is the common one.
3. Look Younger with Healthier Skin: You’ll look younger when your skin is properly hydrated. Water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturizes skin and increases skin elasticity.
4. Better Productivity at Work: Your brain is mostly made up of water, thus drinking water helps you think better, be more alert and more concentrated.
5. Better Exercise: Drinking water regulates your body temperature. That means you’ll feel more energetic when doing exercises. Water also helps to fuel your muscle.
6. Helps in Digestion and Constipation: Drinking water raises your metabolism because it helps in digestion. Fiber and water goes hand in hand so that you can have your daily bowel movement.
7. Less Cramps and Sprains: Proper hydration helps keep your joints and muscles lubricated, so you’ll less likely get cramps and sprains.
8. Less Likely to Get Sick and Feel Healthy: Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attack.
9. Relieves Fatigue: Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body. If your body lacks water, your heart, for instance, needs to work harder to pump out the oxygenated blood to all cells, so are the rest of the vital organs, your organs will be exhausted and so will you.
10. Good Mood: Your body feels very good and that’s why you feel happy.
11. Reduce the Risk of Cancer: Related to the digestive system, some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of bladder cancer and colon cancer. Water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder lining.

Whether you're young or old, healthy or sickly, fat, fit or skinny, we all need to drink enough water. It's not yet too late to make this a habit--and the time starts NOW. This is yet the cheapest and simplest way to stay fit and healthy.

Source: http://www.mangosteen-natural-remedies.com/benefits-of-drinking-water.html