Benefits of Drinking Water

Water, we all agree that we need it.

Benefits of Drinking Water

• All functions of the body require water.
  
• These functions occur efficiently and quickly when we are properly hydrated.
• Helps maintain proper metabolism
  
• Essential for digesting food
• Aids in ridding the body of toxic elements
• Helps cushion the joints
• Water is important in the blood and lymph fluid
• Helps regulate body temperature
• Helps prevent constipation

More benefits of drinking water
Drinking water - a help in losing weight

• Slows the rate of emptying the stomach
• Increases metabolic rate
• In mild dehydration thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Drinking enough water can therefore mean eating less.
  

How much and when?

• There are a lot of different opinions about how much and when we should drink water.
• Those who live in hotter climates or do more physical exercise will need more water that those in cool climates or who do less exercise.
• Some say that we need to drink water in little sips throughout the day. Others say we need to drink a glass at a time.
• Some say it doesn't matter if you drink water with meals. Others say drink half an hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
  
• Dr Batmanghelidj, who wrote "Your Body's Many Cries For Water", recommends two glasses of water first thing in the morning with a pinch of sea salt, a glass of water half an hour before each meal and another 2 glasses of water with a pinch of sea salt before going to bed.
  

Avoid dehydration

However you decide to drink your water, it is very important to make sure you are properly hydrated. Some say that if you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. If you are thirsty have a drink.
In a person who is often under hydrated their thirst mechanism is not always reliable. They may be getting quite dehydrated before they feel thirsty.
Urine should be clear in colour. The darker the urine the more dehydrated the body. The exception to this is that some vitamins will cause the urine to be yellow coloured.

Another symptom of dehydration, especially for elderly people, is poor skin elasticity. If, when the skin is pinched, it holds its form rather than returning to its normal shape, dehydration is probable.

Dehydration can be serious if left untreated and in severe cases can lead to death.

If you want the benefits of drinking water. If you want your brain to work better, your digestion to be improved or your body to be more efficient in its processes, drink your water each day and avoid even mild dehydration.

Stay well hydrated

Jocelyn