There are so many thirst quenching drinks available these days, all of them refreshing and fruity but full of sugar and packed with calories at the same time. It seems like people no longer care about pure, clean water.
Next to air, water is the most vitally important thing the body needs in order to live. Without water, we would not be able to survive beyond a week. Fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and muscle weakness are often due to lack of water. All these and more are the reasons why health experts constantly remind us to drink a lot of water. Before you drink that cola or iced tea, remind yourself of all these things.
The body's natural cleansing processes run on water. It flushes out the toxins and waste products from the kidneys and liver which are the body's main organs of detoxification. If you drink a lot of water, food can pass smoothly through your digestive tract. Water works like a lubricant allowing one to have no difficulty during elimination and facilitating regular bowel movements.
Surprisingly, water also promotes weight loss by increasing the body's metabolism. Admittedly, more work still has to be done on this particular area although studies have shown that drinking more water certainly boosts the body's metabolic rate which means that its calorie burning ability is also increased. With cold water the metabolic rate goes even higher because warming it up requires energy.
Body temperature is regulated by water as well. Water evaporates from the body as sweat whenever we perspire and this has a cooling effect. In addition, nutrients from food are transported to the different cells of the body by water. It can also be found surrounding the joints and organ tissues providing protection and lastly, it gives moisture to soft tissue found in the mouth, nose and eyes.
The water in our body is constantly being used in the performance of biological functions such as breathing, perspiring and elimination. Therefore we should always make sure to replenish the water we lose. When it comes to the amount of water we need everyday, a good rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. It is better to drink only pure water and avoid sugary juices as well as coffee, tea and softdrinks which contain caffeine. You can squeeze a few drops of lemon or lime juice to add flavor to your water for variety. Non-caffeinated herbal teas, and fruits and vegetables that have a high water content are also good.
Pay careful attention to your water intake. If you have an active lifestyle, you need to drink more than the average recommended amount. The same goes for those who are sick, pregnant or breastfeeding. Environmental conditions must also be taken into consideration. People living in dry, hot and humid areas and those living in high altitudes obviously need to drink a lot of water. Aside from these, changes in your regular routine also affect the amount of water you should drink. Based on all these factors, you should be able to estimate the right amount of water you should drink.
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