Health benefits of water
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One of the biggest health secrets is the value of drinking water . . . drinking adequate water each day. Almost 75% of our body is water. The human brain is composed of 95% water; blood is 82% water; the lungs are nearly 90% water; muscles are 75% water and bone is 22% water. When our brain detects a shortage of available fluids it implements a water rationing process by producing histamines, causing pain and fatigue. A 2% reduction in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, such as difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. It is estimated that 75% of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. The most common cause of dehydration is the failure to drink water, but there are also other causes for the loss of water. Certain illnesses like pneumonia, a cold or the flu can dehydrate you and can cause large deficits of water. Ingesting abnormally large amounts of protein can cause excessive excretion of water by the kidneys and lead to a water deficit. In this case urine output is high and this aggravates the water loss. Another common cause of water loss is sweating and this is a health concern for people doing physical activities, especially in hot and humid weather. In the case of dehydration, the blood becomes thick and saturated, which impacts the flow. The excess toxins are then stored within the interstitial space surrounding the cells, pending elimination. Over time this interstitial space begins to resemble a toxic waste site and becomes an acidic medium and over time the accumulation of non-disposed acidic wastes within the body can lead to serious health concerns. Since the cells do not get the proper oxygenation and nutrition, they begin to change in form and function in order to survive. The end stage of this process results in the cells not resembling normal cells and they continue living by means of fermentation rather than the normal oxidative mechanisms. From these points of view we can now understand the benefits of drinking water to maintain the body pH balance in order to prevent and cure disease. Drinking sufficient quantities of water daily can have significant health benefits. For example, it is well documented that drinking sufficient amounts of water will help reduce constipation. What you may not be aware of is that drinking eight glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%. Drinking adequate water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer (by 50%) and it can even reduce the risk of many other forms of cancer, including breast cancer.
Benefit of drinking water in lubricating internal organs and the joints: Back pain is also most often the result of a deficiency in body fluid levels. The disk are made up of an outer shell filled with fluid, primarily water. A properly hydrated disk creates a cushion that absorbs the shock of physical activity and supports the weight of the upper body. These discs are self-hydrating as long as there is adequate fluid levels and regular movement. When theses discs become dehydrated then the shell has to support a larger portion of the load causing pain, swelling and soreness. Without sufficient fluid levels, the pressure on the disc increases and results in pain and stiffness. Passive activities like standing, or sitting at a desk without regular movement, allow constant pressure on the disks, which slowly forces water out. Simply by maintaining a constant and adequate intake of water combined with regular movement such as bending forward and backwards with your head and upper body allowing the disks to hydrate, you can prevent and stop most minor back and neck pain. Arthritis pain and stiffness is now understood to be initially a result of increased friction and swelling in the bone joints. Water is what our body uses to lubricate these joints. When our water levels are reduced there is increased friction between the cartilage surfaces resulting in swelling, stiffness and pain. The movement of the joints causes a suction that pulls water from the bone marrow to the joint cavity if there is available water. An increased intake of water and gentle rhythmic movements of the joints can ease and in many cases overcome minor arthritic pain. Asthma is a direct result of increased histamine production. Dehydration initiates exaggerated histamine production as a water regulating control. It is well known that asthmatics have excessive levels of histamines in their lung tissue causing constriction of the bronchial passages and increased mucus build up. Water is used in the lungs to keep the tissue moist, but each time we exhale, we expel moisture from our lungs. Under normal hydrated conditions the moisture is rapidly replaced. If we are in a dehydrated state then the tissue inside the lungs begins to coat with mucus to prevent drying. It has been demonstrated in studies that an increase intake of water will reduce histamine levels and over a 2 to 3 week period restore normal hydration to lung tissue and reduce mucus build up. When this occurs, the bronchial passages begin to open and normal breathing is restored. The same histamine related effects applies to allergies and significant benefits can result just from an increased intake of water. Hypertension is very often a result of the body adjusting to blood volume loss. The most common cause of lower blood volume is dehydration. Since our blood is the level of available water in our body, when the body detects a loss of blood volume it closes off less active capillaries in order to maintain proper blood flow to the more active areas, which cause a rise in tension inside the muscle mass and is referred to as “hypertension”. When there is adequate water it allows for proper blood volumes and less tension. Morning sickness is also the direct result of dehydration. The fetus lives in a world of water that the body prioritizes above all other needs. Throughout the night, which is the longest period without water intake, the uterus draws water from the mothers system to maintain it’s internal fluid levels and those of the fetus. In the morning the mother awakens in a state of dehydration, nausea and fatigue, hence the term “morning sickness”. A common hangover produces the same symptoms and has essentially the same cause, dehydration. Alcohol is a very strong diuretic and causes the body to excrete water often leading to advanced dehydration. Stress, alcohol and caffeine all affect the amount of water and the speed in which your body loses it. Increased consumption of caffeine or alcohol is common in times of stress, resulting in a loss of water. Any of these factors, alone or in combination, could cause a small but critical shrinkage of the brain. This small shrinkage will impair neuromuscular coordination, decrease concentration and slow thinking.
How Water Can Help Us Beat Stress: One deficiency we commonly experience in times of stress is due to a lack of water. Stress, alcohol and caffeine all affect the amount of water and the speed in which your body loses it. Unfortunately, increased consumption of caffeine or alcohol is common in times of stress, resulting in a loss of water.
Benefit of Drinking Water in Losing Weight: Water is the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Without adequate water, the kidneys cannot function properly. When they don't work to capacity, the overload is then passed on to the liver. One of the liver's primary function is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body but if the liver has to handle some of the kidneys function, it become overloaded. As a result it metabolizes less fat, therefore more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss ceases. Contrary to popular belief, drinking water can actually help you shed excess water weight. When water intake is in short supply, the body, thinking there's a shortage and begins holding it, where it is stored in cellular spaces, in order to keep them alive. In other words, your skin starts looking soft and puffy.
Benefit of Drinking Water in reducing the symptom of water retention: Water is stored in extra-cellular spaces (outside the cell). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands. If your body has a tendency to retain fluids, then you need to consume more water so that it doesn’t store or hold water. Dehydration can cause the body to retain fluid, which will be released as you increase your water intake as well as watching your intake of salt. If water retention is a chronic problem, it may be because there's too much salt in the diet. The higher the salt intake, the more the body tries to retain water (to dilute its concentration). Either reduce salt intake or drink more water. Drinking enough water is the best remedy for fluid retention.
Benefit of Drinking Water for the Skin Health: Skin health is the reflection of our internal health. Hydration and detoxification starts internally and continues externally. Therefore, maintaining a beautiful healthy looking skin is indeed a side benefit of drinking adequate water.
How water affects your body’s pH balance: Your health is directly related to the chemical structure of water, which affects your body's pH balance - if is too acid or too alkaline, the cells can die, causing you health problems. When your body is acidic, it cannot assimilate vitamins and minerals and it's difficult to lose weight, as well as being susceptible to sickness, etc. By increasing your body's pH to become alkaline, you increase the oxygen in your body as well as increasing your energy and enhance your immune system to better heal itself. Balancing a proper body pH is essential and controls the speed of the body's biochemical reactions, as well as cellular and metabolic activities and functions. Alkalinity is a very important nutrition fact for our immune system, enzymatic system, repair mechanisms, biochemical functioning, bone health, etc.
How much is enough? Do You Really Need Eight Glasses of Water Every Day? There are many theories concerning how much water we need to consume each day to maintain good health. A general guideline is:
For some people, drinking plenty of water is a very good idea. As we age, for example, many of us grow less sensitive to losses of body water and don't drink when we should. Developing a water habit is a good precaution against dehydration. In addition, researchers have evidence that people who develop kidney stones can lower their risk of further problems by drinking more water. Unfortunately, there are people for whom guzzling water is dangerous - these people have bodies that have trouble eliminating fluids - for example, those with diabetes, who are taking anti-diuretic hormone or ADH, which prevents the body from losing water. If excess water cannot be excreted, the result is water intoxication, which produces symptoms ranging from mild headache to confusion, coma, seizures and occasionally, even death. The thirst mechanism is one of the most powerful and sensitive of all the body's regulatory functions. Thirst is your best indicator, so listen to your own body. If you're running to the bathroom too often, then you're drinking too much and if you're going less than four times a day, you're probably drinking too little.
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