The most significant benefits to drinking water
With all of the super foods that are on the market now, there is one that I think is the more superior to them all.
That is . . . Water.
Yes, with all of the now super foods that we are being inundated with, most people, I think are trying to include all of these other foods in their diet, but have forgotten about water and the unbelievable benefits that it possesses.
The average human body is typically made up of approximately 60% of water and on average you need to consume about 2 Litres or 8 glasses of water per day and this would be more if you are working out of excessively sweating. Now what most people don't realise is that even if you aren't sweating or workout out and can't feel it, we are constantly losing water so replenishing it is of vital importance.
Our body is constantly trying to maintain homeostasis and balance through regulating our temperature, sweating out toxins or things that are detrimental to our well being, fighting off infections, and regulating our blood pressure and heart rate among countless other things.
Everyone seems to know how great water is for hydration but what are some of the other benefits of water and why is it so important to stay hydrated?
1. Increases brain powder and provides energy
One of the many benefits of water is it helps to increase your brain power and thus giving you the energy you need to live and function properly. Your brain is made of 73% water, so when it is dehydrated by even just 2% it can significantly impair your ability to concentrate, affects your mood, reduces your cognitive and motor skills and affects your memory. Instead of just flooding yourself with water at every meal, try taking a sip of water every hour or so. This will prevent dehydration and you will inadvertently consume more as you are taking greater sips more often.
2. Promotes weight loss and weight management
Water can aid in weight loss by assisting in the removal of fat by products and toxins that get excreted by the liver which can be impairing our metabolism and causing you to hold onto extra weight. Water can also help you feel full. Most of the time when people are feeling hungry, it can also be mistaken as a sign of thirst. When you are feeling hungry, instead of first reaching for a snack or meal, instead sip on some water and then see how you feel. Not only does it help you feel full and act as an natural appetite suppressant it can also improve your metabolism.
3. Help your body with detoxing
Water consumption helps your body's natural detoxification system (the liver and kidneys) to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. When you have a drink or eat food it has to pass through the liver and gets broken down into waste products that then either get stored or excreted through sweat and urine. If the liver is not working properly, too many or too little by products may get created and be left circulating in your system. Water helps with flushing these toxins out of the body.
4. Helps your skin
With the body being 60% water, being dehydrated will affect your skin more than you know.
When the body wants to detox and it's not getting the nutrients and hydration it needs to do it properly in the liver and kidneys, it will start to break out as the toxins will release through any means they can. As UW health states, "If your skin is not getting adequate hydration and a significant amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight or flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling".
5. Boosts your immune system
This is one of the most overlooked yet most important aspects of drinking water is it's ability to help and boost the immune system. It carries oxygen and nutrients to your bodies cells, muscles and organs which help maintain a fully functioning immune system. As mentioned above it helps your body to naturally detox and get rid of harmful toxins so it makes sure any nasty bugs that are lurking around get flushed out.
