The importance of drinking water

December 22, 2014

 

Despite the fact that water has no calorific value, it is an essential part of your diet. You could survive for several weeks without food, but without water you would perish in days. This is because around 70% of your body is made up of water and without it the body cannot operate.  

Water Water Everywhere

Every function in your body takes place in water; it is the solvent that carries nutrients, hormones, antibodies and oxygen through your bloodstream and lymphatic system. Water is also necessary for the elimination of waste from your body. If you do not drink enough, your body must ration and recycle water so that toxic waste is dumped into your tissues, fat, joints and muscles instead of being eliminated.  Classic symptoms of not drinking enough water are headaches, poor concentration, tiredness, poor complexion, persistent kidney and urine infections and constipation.  

Drink plenty of water so that your body can eliminate toxic waste properly  

How much water do you need?

Just because you don’t feel thirsty doesn’t mean you are drinking enough fluids. The average person gets by on a few cups of tea or coffee a day, but you should be drinking two litres (eight glasses) a day. This may seem like a lot, but your body loses up to 12 cups of water per day in perspiration, breathing and urination.

Quality, Quantity

Of course, requirements vary; if you exercise or the weather is hot, you sweat and need to increase your fluid intake. Quality is also important: caffeine drinks are diuretics, stimulating your kidneys to expel water, while alcoholic drinks actually dehydrate the body. Pure water is the best means of hydrating your body, but natural fruit juices are also good water sources.  

I will be posting on how the body uses water in the next health post on Friday!

Thank you for reading :) Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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