Water…the Liquid of Life
Water…it does a body good. Literally.
Our bodies are composed of roughly 70% – 90% water. Unfortunately most people spend a good part of their days constantly dehydrated to some degree. Dehydration does affect the performance of our bodies and they will not function as well without the proper water intake.
Truth is, if you don’t drink enough water you will die. That’s how important you water intake is. We can live for longer periods of time without food but we can only live for a few days without water.
With that knowledge we should be prioritizing our daily consumption of water.
Research has shown that dehydration actually affects your mood making you grumpy and confused. When your cells are hydrated, your thinking is clearer…with much more clarity and your happiness level is higher.
Because water composes 75% of our muscle tissue, being hydrated is imperative to increased athletic performance while dehydration leads to fatigue, dizziness, weakness and electrolyte imbalance.
If we are presently dieting, it’s important to distinguish between our true “hunger pangs” and our bodies need for water. Sometimes we eat when in reality we are really just thirsty. Staying dehydrated serves as an appetite suppressant and therefore helps with weight loss.
Our joints depend on hydration to stay lubricated. Drinking the proper amount of water daily can reduce the pain felt in joints because it keeps the cartilage soft and hydrated.
If we are not consuming enough water daily, we stress our digestive system unnecessarily. Our bodily waste is flushed out in our urine and sweat. Without the proper hydration, our waste is not flushed out properly and it begins to collect in our body resulting in a myriad of problems. When combined with fiber, water is the sure cure to constipation.
Often time’s people will experience a head-ache and automatically believe it is because they have not eaten when in reality it is their bodies cry for water. Next time you experience a head-ache, try drinking water.
If you’re searching for something that will make your skin glow then water is your answer. Plentiful water consumption actually improves the color and texture of your skin because it keeps it building new cells properly. Proper hydration also helps the skin do its job properly by regulating the body’s temperature through sweating.
Consuming the proper amount of water heals all of the above but it also helps to prevent cancer. Research and various studies reveal that staying hydrated can actually reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50%, and reduces the risk of breast cancer as well.
So, the question is, “how much water should I be drinking daily?”
As a general rule of thumb, you should be drinking half your bodyweight in ounces of water daily. For example, if you weigh in at 120 lbs., you should be drinking 60 oz. of water daily.
You can also increase your water intake by eating as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible because they are dense in water.
To avoid finding yourself without water when you are out, carry a water bottle everywhere you go. If nothing else, it’s a great reminder to be drinking more water!
You know if your water consumption is correct by checking your urine. If you are not drinking enough water, your urine will be a darker color but if you are drinking enough water your urine appears light in color (if you are using this gauge, make sure to account for the coloring any supplements might be adding to your urine).
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