Water is an essential substance on Earth, as all plants and animals require it to survive. The human body is made up of around two-thirds water, and it plays a vital role in almost all of our body’s functions. Despite this, many people don’t drink enough water and may be unaware of the many benefits it provides.
In this article, we will discuss why you should be drinking water, its benefits, and how sugary drinks can negatively impact your health. We will also provide tips for increasing your water intake and maintaining good hydration levels.
Why You Should Be Drinking Water
Water is essential to our survival, and our bodies require it to function correctly. If we do not drink enough water, it can lead to dehydration, which can cause a range of symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, joint pain, constipation, and indigestion. It can also lead to more severe conditions such as colitis, kidney stones, bladder and urinary tract infections, and more.
Even a slight decrease of 2% in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration, including daytime fatigue, fuzzy short-term memory, and difficulty focusing. It’s estimated that 75% of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration, and for 37% of Americans, their thirst mechanism is so weak that it’s often mistaken for hunger.
Drinking water is also crucial for weight loss. One University of Washington study found that one glass of water shut down hunger for almost 100% of dieters. When you drink water before meals, it can help you feel full, and you’ll consume fewer calories. Additionally, consistent failure to drink enough water can lead to Chronic Cellular Dehydration, where the body’s cells are never quite hydrated enough, leaving them in a weakened state and vulnerable to attack from disease.
Benefits of Drinking Water
Water serves as a lubricant in digestion and almost all other body processes. It also lubricates our joints and cartilages, allowing them to move more fluidly. Less lubrication equals greater friction, which can cause joint, knee, and back pain, potentially leading to injuries and arthritis.
Water is also essential for proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and chemical reactions. It transports waste material out of our bodies and helps to remove toxins from the body, particularly from the digestive tract. Water is also necessary for proper circulation in the body. The levels of oxygen in the bloodstream are greater when the body is well hydrated. The more oxygen the body has readily available, the more fat it will burn for energy. Without the presence of oxygen in the bloodstream, the body cannot utilize stored fat for energy efficiently. Not only does your body burn more of your fat stores when well hydrated, but the increased oxygen levels will give you more energy too.
Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in it can actually reduce fat deposits.
Sugary Drinks Don’t Hydrate You (Water Does!)
While many people consume beverages such as coffee, tea, alcohol, soft and sugary drinks, water should be your primary choice for hydration. These beverages are all diuretics and will cause not only the loss of water, but they will also diminish the body’s water reserves. Most fluids should be replaced by drinking pure water. The rest you should get from fruit, vegetables, and their juices.
It’s difficult for the body to get water from any other source than water itself. Soft drinks and alcohol steal tremendous amounts of water from the body. Other beverages such as coffee and tea are diuretics and steal precious water from the body.
There is no health reason to drink sports drinks: “Most experts agree that water works better than carbohydrates or sugared beverages for moderate exercise.”
If you want to learn more I recommend you the book “The Body’s Many Cries for Water” is a book written by Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, a medical doctor who claims that many diseases and ailments are caused by chronic dehydration. In the book, Dr. Batmanghelidj explains that the human body requires a certain amount of water to function properly, and that many people do not drink enough water to meet their body’s needs.
The book is based on Dr. Batmanghelidj’s own experiences treating prisoners in Iran during the 1979 revolution, where he had limited access to medication and other resources. He found that many of the prisoners were suffering from various health problems, which he was able to alleviate by simply prescribing them water.
Dr. Batmanghelidj argues that chronic dehydration can lead to a range of health problems, including asthma, allergies, arthritis, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and many others. He believes that many of these conditions can be prevented or cured by simply drinking more water.
The book provides a detailed explanation of the science behind dehydration and the various ways in which it can affect the body. Dr. Batmanghelidj also offers practical advice on how to ensure that you are drinking enough water to stay properly hydrated.
While some of Dr. Batmanghelidj’s claims have been met with skepticism by the medical community, his book has been popular among those who believe in the importance of hydration and its potential health benefits. Many people who have read the book report that they have experienced improvements in their health after increasing their water intake.
Overall, “The Body’s Many Cries for Water” is an interesting read for anyone who is interested in the science of hydration and its potential impact on health and well-being.