Go and get a glass of water as the benefits of drinking this liquid are huge! Take a look.
1. Helps maintain the body’s fluid balance
The human body is about 70% water. That’s because every cell in the body is made up of it and a lot of our bodily functions require it as well. If you aren’t drinking enough your body is not going to function correctly.
Dr James Lewis gives us some statistics: “Fat tissue has a lower percentage of water than lean tissue and women tend to have more fat, so the percentage of body weight that is water in the average woman is lower (52 to 55%) than it is in the average man (60%).
“The percentage of body weight that is water is also lower in older people and in obese people. The percentage of body weight that is water is higher (70%) at birth and in early childhood.
“A 150-pound (68-kilogram) man has a little over 10 gallons (41 liters) of water in his body: 6 to 7 gallons (23 to 27 liters) inside the cells, 2 gallons (about 7 liters) in the space around the cells, and slightly less than 1 gallon (4 liters, or about 9% of the total amount of water) in the blood.”
2. Maintains kidney function and digestive health (among others!)
The kidneys are responsible for flushing out toxins and waste. But they use H2O to do this. If you aren’t drinking enough, they can’t get rid of the waste.
Likewise, your bowels use H2O as a lubricant to help move food and waste along. Deprive your bowels of and you’re more likely to suffer from constipation.
Oh, and don’t forget that your skin is another organ that relies on water to remove the toxins and waste that cause pimples. So if you want your skin to look better, drink up.
3. Prevents muscle fatigue and joint injury
When you sweat at the gym, your muscles lose H2O too. Did you know that your muscles actually shrivel up a little without water and sufficient electrolytes? Well, they do. And as you can imagine, when this happens, they don’t work as well as they should. If you want to get the most out of your workouts, make sure you’re giving your muscles enough H2O.
Your joints also need sufficient water for their lubrication. So if you want to avoid joint injuries, make sure you’re getting enough fluid. It’s recommended that you drink a glassbefore your workout, as well as sips of water during the workout (and after).
4. Keeps heart attacks and some cancers at bay
Scientists have found that people who drink too little water are at greater risk of suffering a heart attack, or of developing cancer of the bladder, kidneys or colon. This makes sense if you consider what we told you earlier, about the role of water in the management of waste removal.
5. Helps you get the best out of your food
Certain nutrients and vitamins are absorbed ONLY in H2O. So if you’re not drinking enough , your body can’t absorb all the vitamins it needs – no matter how many vitamin supplements you swallow.
6. Prevents headaches and fatigue
Various studies show evidence that dehydration is directly responsible for fatigue, poor cognitive function and headaches. You’re not going to get through a rough day at the office without H2O.
We all know that good nutrition is critical to our health, especially since our modern lifestyle really squeezes it out of us. If you feel your nutrition isn’t up to scratch, consult an expert nutritionist. Or, even better, sign up for our Specialised Nutrition Certification so you can be your own nutrition guru!