For thousands of years, people of all countries have been seeking a mythical
fountain of youth. If I told you that there is something that will give you
beautiful glowing skin, diminish those fine lines and wrinkles, increase
your energy level, and help your overall health, I bet you would listen and be
interested. All the time, this fountain of youth has been right here
in our everyday life. Yes, the fountain of youth is water!
sure you have heard it many times "Drink more water, it's good for you!" If,
up to now, you have never taken this seriously, please start now! You do not need
fancy and expensive mineral waters or bottled waters, as good clear clean
water is what your body needs. Although water contain no nutrients, it is
essential to life and for the growth and maintenance of our bodies. So, forget soft drinks, coffees, teas, sport
drinks, elixirs, or cappuccinos, as drinking water is the key to being
healthier and living longer.
Did You Know:
Your blood is 83% water, muscles are 75%
water, your brain is 74% water, and your bone are 22% water. Also 2/3 of our body weight is water. All of this water is
needed by our bodies, and a 1% loss of our body weight due to fluid loss
can cause dehydration which can lead to serious medical complications.
As we are constantly losing water from our body by sweating or
urinating, we need to put the water back in your system. When you drink
enough water to maintain good health, you are providing enough water to
keep your internal organs and systems running smoothly. If you don't
drink enough water, you will begin to feel tired and weak. Many people
blame their loss of energy on everything except dehydration. Your lungs expel between 2 and 4 cups of
water each day through normal breathing. If you make half a dozen trips
to the bathroom during the day, that's another 6 cups of water. If you
perspire, you expel about 2 cups of water (which doesn't include
Think about what happens when you forget to water your plants. The
plants begin to droop and then become dry and brittle. Watering the
plant may bring it back, but it will likely have some damaged leaves.
Water works the same with people. The body uses water for every basic
process from transporting nutrients throughout the body to maintaining
body temperature. Water is vital in order for our bodies to keep
functioning, as it lubricates your eyes and joints, flushes out toxins
and waste, and keeps our skin healthy and beautiful. Our bodies can last weeks, even months
without food but only a number of days without water.
Water, besides oxygen is the second most
important element to survival. Plus 25% of oxygen comes from water.
Water is the fuel of our body and our organs. Just like a car can't
drive without gas or oil, our body can't function without water.
Perspiration is the bodies natural mechanism to control body
temperature. To sweat properly you need plenty of water. Water reduces
body temperature making exercising safer and more effective.
Beauty: Water is the best beauty treatment. By drinking water, you moisture your
skin from within or the inside out. As our skin is composed of
approximately 20% water, it will wrinkle faster without adequate
moisture. Just like the plant, when skin loses moisture, it gets dry. Dry skin
shows wrinkles more and causes skin to sag faster than it would
normally. Skin that is becoming saggy, either due to aging or weight
loss, will plump up nicely when the skin cells are hydrated. Hydrated
skin looks younger as it is plumper. Also, spritzing your face with some
water is great for a little pick me up.
Losing Weight: Water is quite possibly the single most
important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off! Water also works as an
Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. When your drink all the
water your body needs, you will quickly notice a decrease in your
appetite. If you are serious about losing weight, drinking water is an
absolute must! Drink a glass of cold water when you start to feel
hungry, as people often confuse mild feeling of thirst with mild hunger. Researchers report that
water helps to lose weight by boosting your metabolism rate, thus paving
way for quick weight loss. Try drinking a glass of water 15 minutes
before each meal.
Fluid Retention: Drinking enough water is the best
treatment for fluid retention. The best way to overcome the problem of
water retention is to give your body what it needs - plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released. Lack of hydration in the body can cause backaches, as the muscles in the
body do not perform properly unless the body has sufficient water
intake. One of the most common causes of headaches
is lack of proper hydration. In most cases, simply drinking a couple of
cups of water and relaxing for 20 minutes will stop the pain.
Digestive System: Drinking even the minimum amount requirements of water during the day
will help keep your colon healthy and reduce the risk of colon cancer,
because water helps the digestive system operate the way it is meant to
operate. One study found
that women who drank more than 5 glasses of water a day had a risk of
colon cancer 45% less than those that drank less than two.
people are dehydrated without even knowing it. You are probably asking,
“How do I tell if I am dehydrated?” The easiest way is to check out the
color of your urine. Your urine should be a pale color (clear to light
yellow). If it is any darker than the color of straw, you are probably not drinking enough water daily.
NOTE: Bright yellow urine could also occur if you are taking vitamins that
If you feel thirsty, you are probably dehydrated. Other symptoms of dehydration include
headaches, loss of concentration, tiredness, and dry eyes and skin. You need to
continually drink water throughout the day, rather than when you body cries
out for liquid. If you are thirsty, you have allowed yourself to become
dehydrated. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water - drink it
during the day! Dehydration also gives
you false hunger feelings so it is very common to misread what is thirst and
what is hunger.
Dangers of too much
water - Overhydration can be hazardous, even lethal: There
are dangers from drinking too much water. According to the article,
"Hydration for summer exercise", July 2008 issue of Harvard Men's
Health Watch, drinking 3 or 4 quarts of water in a few hours can
lead to water intoxication and hyponatremia (low blood sodium
levels), brain swelling, and even death. This happen because to much
water dilutes the sodium and other electrolytes found in the body to
a point where normal body function (particularly brain functions)
are adversely affect.
Diabetes: If you
feel like your thirst in unquenchable, this could be a sign of
diabetes, as many people do not realize that insatiable thirst is
part of the diabetes profile. The thirst could be a clue that
further testing is needed, and you should consult your doctor.
How much water to drink
Now that I have hopefully convinced you of the benefits of drinking
water for your skin and health, how much should your drink a day? The
Mayo Clinic suggests using "8x8" as a guideline (see guideline
8 glasses (8 ounces
each) = a minimum of 64 ounces of fluid (water) daily
You may need
even more as exercising, hot weather, offices with exposure to central
heating, air conditioning, and electrical equipment all cause your body
to lose water. So remember, increased water output requires increased
water input. You can count milk, juice, and other healthy beverages as
part of your daily fluid total, but make sure that most of your daily
fluid input is pure, clear water.
The overweight person needs more water
than a thin one. The new rule for drinking water is to divide your weight by 2 equals the amount in
ounces of water that your body needs per day (see example below). The more overweight you are, the
more water your body needs daily.
The water you drink should preferably be
cold, as cold water is absorbed into the system more quickly than warm
water. Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help
How to increase daily water intake:
Drinking enough water
during the day is very easy to do. Just make a few little changes in your
habits, such as keeping a full bottle of water with you at all times, and
also substituted water for soda, coffee, or juice. Alcoholic beverages and caffeinated
drinks such as coffee, tea, and cola don't count in your fluid intake as
they have a diuretic effect that may deplete your body's water supply. The sugars, coloring, and
artificial flavoring in soda dramatically adds calories and helps you gain
Make a conscious effort to always have water with your at all times - in
the car, at your desk, in your purse, etc.
Sip your water to allow
your body to absorb it slowly. Gulping water will only make your feel
bloated. Your water
consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It is not healthy to
drink too much water at one time.
sleeping comfort, it is probably a good idea to stop drinking water 3 hours
before bedtime. I think you know why!
Do you think
water is yucky?
Drinking other fluids
will certainly help hydrate your body, the the extra calories, sugar, and
additives are not needed. Try a slice of lemon or lime in the glass. You can
also use flavored waters, but just make sure you read the labels first.
Water is the Fountain of Youth
no mater how old you are!