By Kay Leaman, HealthDay HealthyLife
We all know that water is necessary. Some of us drink often; some are satisfied with one or two glasses a day and some just don’t like it. There is also the misconception that drinking tea or coffee counts since it’s made with water. So, why should we pay more attention to how much we drink?
Water is used by every cell, organ and tissue that makes up the body and nearly all of the major systems in the body depend on water. It’s the medium for most chemical reactions in the body especially those metabolic reactions involved in energy production.
Water is also responsible for the following:
• Transporting oxygen, nutrients and waste in out of the cells
• Regulating temperature
• Protecting the body’s organs and tissues
• Cushioning components between joints, in the spinal cord and brain
• Decreasing the burden on the kidneys and liver by flushing out waste products
• Preventing constipation
We lose water through breathing, sweating and digestion and, when blood sugar levels are high, you needs a lot of water to leave via the kidneys (a ratio of six molecules of water for every molecule of sugar). If the cells do not get the water they need, the body’s cells get drunk and dehydration sets in.
Water composes 75% of our brains, 22% of our bones, 75% of our muscles and 83% of our blood. So, how much water should we drink each day? Some say between 72-80 ounces and others estimate half your body weight.
If you’re not a big water drinker, then this probably sounds impossible. The good news is, it’s not! Start by increasing the number of glasses you drink daily by one and move up from there. Measure the amount of water your glass or container holds. Use rubber bands or hair ties for your target goal (moving them from top to bottom each time you empty). If you don’t like water due to taste (or not taste), consider buying a diffuser, which allows you to use fruit to flavor the water. Options are watermelon, berries, lemons, limes, oranges, cucumbers, jalapenos, etc. Mix and match to find your favorite flavor. Gradually increase your intake over several weeks.
Lastly, feed your body with the necessity of life—WATER! Visit Kay at succeed@healthydayhealthylife.com.
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