Why is Water Good for You

Do you know our body weight comprises of nearly 60 to 70 percent of water, and that sufficient intake of water can help us stave off many health problems that we are facing today? Well, to know more why is water good for you, read on...
Why is Water Good for You
Water is the key component for all living beings and the most common substance on the Earth. Water plays an important role in our lives and is vital for maintaining various bodily functions and activities, like food assimilation and digestion, excretion, cellular reaction and body temperature regulation. Since much of our body is made up of water, inadequate intake of water will leave our body under-hydrated or can even cause dehydration. Drinking water on an empty stomach is the best way to consume water as it gets easily absorbed by the body. In fact, drinking two glasses of water just after you wake up helps to stimulate peristalsis, lower blood concentration, and boost blood circulation. These are just few out of the many reasons for why is water good for you. The list below describes some more benefits of water.

Why is it Important to Drink Water?
Drinking lots of water is important for our health and well being for the following reasons:
  • It maintains blood volume in the body which prevents blood thickening, therefore reduces the risk of cardiovascular or heart diseases like high blood pressure, heart attacks, etc.
  • It flushes out the toxins from our bodies through urination and sweat, and prevents the risks of urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
  • It minimizes the chances of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 75%, and bladder cancer by 50%.
  • It helps you lose weight by burning more calories during regular routine activities and exercises. Drinking a glass of water 30 minutes before each meal will make you feel full, as a result you will eat less, hence enabling you to lose weight fast. This also helps in better digestion of the food and rids the body of excess sodium that leads to fluid retention.
  • Drinking water helps maintain digestive health, ease or prevent the stomach distress, and constipation.
  • It improves our skin texture by making it more soft, supple, smooth and wrinkle free. Drinking plenty of water keeps our skin hydrated, enhances our appearance and boosts our energy levels.
How Much Water Do We Need to Drink?
How much water our body needs can be calculated by taking your body weight in pounds and dividing that number in half. This will provide you with number of ounces of water you should drink everyday. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you need to drink minimum 90 ounces of water per day. If you exercise regularly, you should increase the water intake by eight more glasses of water for every 20 minutes you are active. Approximately 20 to 30 percent of water comes from the food we eat and rest from the beverages we drink. In place of soda, herbal tea or sport drinks which contain added sugar, it is always better to drink simple and clean water or natural fruit juices which are rich in vitamins and nutrients.

Therefore, one should always carry a bottle of water while working, traveling, or exercising, to maintain enough water intake in the body. Sufficient intake of clean and fresh water not only improves your overall health but also prevents you from several ailments and diseases. Keeping yourself hydrated will serve you with optimal health and appearance. Hence, I am sure by now you must be having a fair idea of why is water good for you and what are its health benefits. So drink enough water and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

By Kanika Khara
Published: 8/31/2009
 
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