Water, Hydration & Health

Water, Hydration & Health

In the human body, water comprises 92% of the blood, 75% of the brain, 75% of the muscles, and 22% of the bones.Although this is true, so many drinks contain so little of it. Water is a vital part of life and healthy living. Many choose to drink coffee, soda, ice tea, tea or alcohol because of ignorance or just lack of information. This article focuses on the importance of water on the body, and its affects -- both good and bad. So, if you’re one of those people who have made the decision to change your lifestyle and health for the better, then read on, because I’ll show you why and how water can be your key to discovering the fountain of youth.

The Good
So you asked, what are the advantages of drinking water? Well, for starters, all those who worry about their calorie and fat intakes, water can solve all your problems, because it contains zero (0) calories and zero fat and best of all, it is the only drink that can really satisfy thirst. Another added bonus, water is cheap. Fact is you can’t beat a nice tall glass of cold water. Water makes your skin less oily, the better hydrated you are the better your skin will look and feel, which means less wrinkles. Water gives your skin the added moisture and elasticity to prevent cracking due to dryness and dehydration. Water also cleans out your system making your vital organs function more efficiently, not to mention making your mouth feel fresher.

The Bad
Not enough consumption of water can cause a variety of problems. Most think that dehydration only afflicts those who lives in extremely hot climates like the desert dwellers of the Sahara, but on the contrary, research suggest that most North American people are themselves living in hydration hells that results in fatigue, sluggishness, dulled senses or slowed reaction, affecting performance and efficiency. Research shows that water loss of 1-2% of your bodyweight slows or impairs the body both mentally and physically. A loss of 7% or more can lead to the disturbance in function to your internal organs, which can result in bodily collapse.

The solution
It is recommended that on average, a sedentary person should consume at least 9-12 glasses of water a day. 12-15 glasses should be consumed for persons who are more active and go to the gym regularly. During workouts, where you will lose a lot of water through perspiration, it is recommended that you have 2 cups of water an hour before your exercise or event, and an additional cup every 20-30 minutes during your workout.

When reading through these facts and numbers, I know that it seems like drinking water is a workout in itself. This probably why a lot people are turned off by it, but there are ways to fix your hydration problems and program yourself to drink water consistently. Let's show you how:

First things, first
- As soon as you get up, whether it be in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or when you wake up in the morning, always grab a tall glass or two of water. What this does is replenish your body’s water supply which was in use during the time that you were asleep.

Always have a bottle in hand
- Purchase a convenient water bottle that you can carry around with you anywhere, be it in the gym, office, car or even at home. This is a great way to having access to water all the time.

Develop a habit
- Just like it is a habit for some to drink coffee every morning or smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day, it would be much healthier to replace those bad habits by developing a good one. Instead of coffee, replace it with water during breakfast, break, and lunch. By process of elimination, replacing coffee, tea or soda for water could be the best habit you’ll ever develop.

Avoid dehydration
Color coding – next time you go to the bathroom and urinate, pay close attention to the color of your urine; if your urine is a dark-golden color, that is a sign that your body's water supply is low. Your urine should be either a light yellow or a clear color.

Keep drinking – don’t just drink a glass of water when you feel the need for it or when you’re thirsty – hydration is an ongoing process – to make drinking water easier – drink a glass or a cup every hour. This should alleviate your thirst and your craving for caffeine.

Avoid caffeine, soda or tea - Why? Because they are diuretics, which mean that they take water out of the body – rendering your body likely to suffer the ill effects of dehydration.

Lesson; just as much as lifting weights and eating right are important in achieving a healthy body, water is just as important if not more so. The fact is – you can’t be healthy without water - it is one of the building blocks of life. If consumed regularly, you’ll find that whatever your water source is, you will have found the “fountain of youth”.