Holiday season is upon us and for many of us it’s parties and events on top of each other and many times this is often accompanied by lots of eating and drinking. A lot of this drinking usually involves any and everything but water. Which is sad because water is so beneficial and also free (or cheaper) at least but yet so easily overlooked.
To help put things in perspective, Your body is about 70% water, the majority of your blood and every cell in your body is composed of water. Therefore, you need water to function properly.
Therefore, drinking water (either plain or in the form of other fluids or foods) is essential to your health. If you don’t care much for the taste of… nothing, then you can add a squirt of lemon, a squeeze of lime, a few sprigs of fresh mint or a cucumber or orange slice. You can even be so bold as to add a few berries or watermelon. Whatever gets you to drink it up. Cheers to your good health!
Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
Water Can Help Control Calories. This doesn’t mean that water can be used as some type of magic weight loss potion, however if you tend to pick water over other high caloric drinks, you’re already reducing your caloric intake. Also, food with high water content tends to look larger, its higher volume requires more chewing, and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full. Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, oatmeal, and beans.
Muscle fuel. For my #FitFam, Sweating at the gym causes muscles to lose water. And when the muscles don’t have enough water, they get tired . So for extra energy, try drinking water to push through that final set of squats.
Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. Certain toxins in the body can cause the skin to inflame, which results in clogged pores and acne . Water does flush out these toxins and can reduce the risk of pimples.
Water Helps Your Kidneys. Our kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate. When you’re getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions.
If you chronically drink too little, you may be at higher risk for kidney stones and urinary tract infections, especially in warm climates like Nigeria.
Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don’t get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration — and the result is constipation
Save Money! Who doesn’t want to save a few coins these days? Even the smallest bottle of your favourite beverage is more expensive than a bottle of water. And there’s always the option of boiling your water at home which costs absolutely nothing, so, be wise and choose water, not just for your body’s benefit but for your accounts benefit too.
There is no set required daily amount of water and the need varies depending on activity level, age, and how much water people are consuming in coffee, tea, or water-rich veggies and fruit.
So as you make your list of resolutions for the new year, remember to include more water in your life. Here’s how to keep yourself hydrated: Begin by drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up, and 30 minutes before eating any big meal. (This will help control appetite, too.) Get in the habit of keeping a water bottle on hand at all times. And if the taste beings to bore, spice up the taste buds with a squeeze of citrus to the glass! Before you know it, all the benefits of water will be right at your fingertips… and in your body.
