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Water Benefits for Health

benefits of water
water benefits
Water benefits health immensely. No matter how much water you drink everyday, this write-up promises to motivate you to drink plenty more for good health. Here I must emphasize that I am talking about normal drinking water or calorie free beverages, and not coffee, tea, alcohol, juice, or even cold water. Water forms a major part of your body, or if you say that 60% of your body is water won't be wrong. So the question arises: how much water should you drink?

Do not forget to check the dangers of drinking cold water here.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Choose MyPlate, your thirst should decide your intake of water! Though water is a crucial nutrient, everyone’s needs are different, depending on various factors, including age, level of physical activity, and diet. Most of us get enough water from the foods and beverages we consume during the day. MSU Extension recommends an increased intake of water if you are an older adult or physically active or work in a hot environment to prevent dehydration. Even mild dehydration risks causing ill health and can drain you of energy.


There are plenty of reasons to drink more water, some of which include:


  • Helps Weight loss – Since water has zero calories, it should be your weight loss friend and consumed in significant proportion. Research indicates that drinking water 20-30 minutes before meal makes us feel full. This means less cravings for other tings, which will help reduce the amount of calories you normally consume. If you are struggling with obesity, water can prove to be a miracle for you. Increase your intake of water per day. A normal human must drink at least three liters or 8 glasses of water every day. If you are overweight, your body's need for water would be more. Drinking water can be a crucial component of your weight loss or management plan, as it kick starts your body's metabolism, especially if you start your day drinking a glass of water.Several studies have been conducted to establish the link between water and weight loss, claiming that drinking water is a less risky way to lose weight than many other weight loss programs. It won't be wrong to infer that water benefits weight loss.


water health benefits

  • Improves skin – When absorbed by cells, water helps improve the elasticity and moisture of skin. Our cells are made up of water, and deficit of which can cause wrinkles and fine lines. Lack of sufficient water will cause the skin to lose elasticity and dry out in the form of wrinkles. However, there's a lack of research that could prove a direct connection between water and skin health. Nevertheless, I drink plenty of water everyday and can clearly see water benefits skin health.
  • Improves mood: Anger, confusion, irritation, and depression are often associated with dehydration. So why keep your mood down by being dehydrated. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and happy!
  • Improves brain –  Since 80% of the brain is water, it’s important to keep the body hydrated. Water improves mind and mental power. If you are struggling with ideas, drink a glass of water, says one study conducted by University of East London researchers. Lack of water may affect your focus and memory ability. If you are thirsty, your mind does not work as fast as it does when it is hydrated. According to the study, when you are thirsty and drink a glass of water, the parts of the brain that were telling your body it is thirsty are freed up, so you can expect to come up with some ideas. Separate research claims that your gray matter can shrink if you fail to drink enough water, making it harder to think.

  • Fuels muscles – If you are suffering from muscle aches, joint pain, or persistent headaches, increasing your intake of water can certainly help. Yes, water benefits muscles and joints. As the most essential nutrient, water keeps our bodies hydrated and running smoothly, cushions joints, regulates internal temperature, protects organs and helps carry nutrients to different parts of the body. When your body is dehydrated, muscle strength and control become weak. Due to dehydration, muscles are deprived of electrolytes. As nerves control muscles, the exchange of electrolyte minerals in water results in contraction of muscles and electrical stimulation of nerves. It's thus crucial to drink plenty of water for health and muscle building.
  • Fights sickness: Drink plenty of water to lessen congestion and keep your bodies in better condition. This will help in the prevention of seasonal colds and flu. 
    water benefits health
    water benefits for health
  • Reduces cancer risk – Researchers at Harvard and Ohio universities claim that drinking water help keep cells healthy and may also reduce risk of bladder cancer in men and breast cancer in women.
  • Fight diabetes: If you are suffering from diabetes, increasing your water intake can definitely help improve your health. In the case of diabetics, since a large volume of water is diluted in the form of urine, drinking plenty of water will keep the body hydrated. Researchers claim that water benefits the body by helping it regulate blood sugar. Since pure water contains no sugar, it is a healthy solution to reduce intake of sugar in diet.   In diabetics, one of the key signs to know if the glucose levels are high is thirst, and drinking adequate water is the best way to break down the sugar in the body and keep the body functioning normally. 
All in all, life on earth won't be possible if there were no water on the planet. Such are water benefits for us that we can't live without it. Water prevents kidney damage and helps them function better. Without adequate water, kidneys fail to function properly.
Disclaimer
This article should not be considered medical advice. It is solely based on my research of different educational and .gov sites. 

 References

1. Water for weight loss http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/23/drink.water.lose.weight/
2. Water for skin: http://www.uwhealth.org/madison-plastic-surgery/the-benefits-of-drinking-water-for-your-skin/26334
3. Water for brain: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/water_health_benefits
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263648.php
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2366353/How-drinking-glass-water-make-brain-14-faster.html
4. Water for mood: http://sites.psu.edu/pettisblog/2012/12/07/shocking-benefits-of-water/
5. Water for muscles: http://extension.psu.edu/health/news/2013/water-drink-up
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/water_health_benefits
6. Water and cancer: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/bladder.htm
http://blogs.bgsu.edu/wellawareemployeewellness/2010/03/17/drink-up-good-things-about-water/
7. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water
8. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/really-the-claim-drinking-water-can-help-lower-the-risk-of-diabetes/

Image credits
1. http://www.thewatercoolercompany.com/assets/images/pagegraphics/water-benefits-to-human-body.jpg
2. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2b/e0/dd/2be0dd549b633add585af166b307c0dd.jpg
3. http://www.dietdigest.org/wp-content/uploads/images/pin/how-drinking-water-helps-to-lose-weight.jpg
4. http://ecodelsur.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/drink-water.jpg
5. http://getfitwithles.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/water-health.jpg
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