It seems as though there is a significant amount of advertisement for sodas, power drinks, etc. It's no wonder why we as a country tend to lean towards these beverages that do not benefit our health one bit. The importance of water has lost it's luster throughout the years.
The human body is made up of anywhere between 55-75% of water and needs to be constantly replenished. It may not be known but your body is constantly losing water through normal biological processes. For instance, your lungs expel between two and four cups of water each day through normal breathing, more-so on a chilly day. If you make half a dozen trips to the bathroom during the day, you are urinating out six cups of water. During normal perspiration we lose around two cups of water and that number increases with exercise.
Some of the major complications associated with dehydration include:
fatigue
a decrease in critical thinking
headaches
back pain
muscle spasm
dizziness
constipation
These are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ailments of dehydration. Drinking plenty of water is crucial to avoiding any of the preceding conditions. The benefits of drinking plenty of water are vast. They include but are not limited to the following:
decreases likelihood of kidney stones
aids in the lubrication of joints
prevents constipation
enhances fat loss
helps "flush" away metabolic waste products
aids in appetite suppression
hydrates skin (makes you look younger)
increases your energy
This is just a minute list of how water benefits the human frame above down inside out. The recommended intake of water is 8 eight ounce glasses a water a day. That is a great a starting point if you are intending on increasing your water intake. Those who exercise frequently need more hydration and should drink twelve glasses.
If you are not use to drinking the recommended amount of water a day, try substituting one of your normal drinks with a glass of water. Do this on a daily basis and work up to the recommended amount.
Are you quenching your body's thirst?!
