|
Is water important? Well let’s see, other than making up 50%-60% of our bodies, regulating body temperature, helping our breathing, transporting nutrients, carrying away waste and helping our muscles function, water is pretty much useless. Oh, and you need water or, after three days without it, you’ll die. So in other words, water is pretty darn essential. It can even be an extremely important (and often unappreciated) weight loss factor. Somehow, though, water is one of the most neglected parts of our diet. Some of us possibly go an entire day at times without one glass! Every part of your body is dependent on and comprised of water, and the most important parts need even more. Your brain is made up of 75% water, your blood 82% and your lungs nearly 90%. Besides being a vital component of your body, water also helps to reduce weight. The more hydrated you are, the quicker your metabolism works. When you are dehydrated – even before you start becoming thirsty – your liver has to help the kidneys function and can’t metabolize fat as quickly. Your metabolism slows down, causing some unwanted fat to remain. If your body is used to not getting water, it actually stores more in ankles, hips and thighs. In other words, it doesn’t trust you to keep bringing water, so it keeps what it can get, like a thirsty cactus. Once it realizes the water will keep coming, your body will get rid of the stores and you’ll lose weight! Plus, if you’re suffering from cravings or having trouble controlling hunger, drinking water is a quick, healthy way to feel full. Drink a glass when you normally snack, and have one before your meal and right before going out. Staying hydrated is not restricted to drinking water; milk, juice and other liquids – even some fruits and vegetables – are good sources of water. But avoid caffeinated beverages (coffee, soda), as they actually cause you to lose fluids and become dehydrated. The recommended daily amount of water is eight cups a day, but don’t feel bad if you have neglected your water intake. Even if you constantly drink coffee or soda, you can make some simple changes to increase the water in your diet. Here are just a few ways to get more water every day:
|
|
SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
Nutrition Articles › Nutrient BuzzWater is a Secret IngredientWater: The Wild Card of Weight Loss-- By Zach Van Hart, Staff WriterSparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
 You will earn 3 SparkPoints
Page 1 of 1
Return to main nutrition page »
|
Chronic pain can make it difficult to get a good night's sleep but restful sleep helps with pain management. Here's how to break the vicious cycle of pain and sleep.
Read More
Get a personalized diet and fitness plan, great newsletters, post to our message boards, and even your own personal SparkPage!
Join Now For Free!
Join Now For Free!
Member Comments
http://www.what
isall.com/hea
lth/what-are-
the-health-be
nefits-of-dri
nking-water.html - 5/3/2013 5:29:12 AM
Dr. Mark Ellerkmann, a urogynecologist at Mercy Medical Center, said there are certain situations where drinking a lot of water is necessary, such as being in a hot climate or doing vigorous exercise. There are also certain medical conditions that require extra hydration. But he said overall, it's not necessary.
"Humans are typically pretty good at regulating their own fluid imbalance. Our thirst center tells us when we are thirsty long before we are dehydrated," Ellerkmann said.
Valtin's article also said the idea that drinking lots of water can fill a person up is also false.
"What we know about water intake is it doesn't really affect the satiety center in our brain that tells us not to eat so much," Ellerkmann said.
Another assertion the article makes said caffeinated drinks and some alcoholic beverages actually do count toward your daily water intake.
"Not just water, but any beverages that we drink, including -- believe it or not -- any dilute alcohol. Beer, for example, can be tallied into that overall intake," Ellerkmann said.
Read more: http://www.wbaltv
.com/news/hea
lth/Doc-Drink
ing-64-oz-of-
water-per-day
-a-myth/-/937
9230/19072736
/-/tnb8huz/-/index.html#ixzz2N6pBgki9
- 3/9/2013 11:46:40 PM
Pure unadalterated water is the best thing to get used too. It took alittle bit to get used too, like diet beverages...but once you do, its just imposible to go back tothe unhealthy drinks.
Its best to try and think of water BEFORE FOOD. It has more importance and health bennys. - 1/1/2013 9:16:08 PM
this is true.
I was actually having issues and had to go to the dr's office to get looked at. - 6/1/2012 5:07:55 PM
“Follow the example of a SparkPeople member: this woman put a water glass on her windowsill with 8 pennies on one side. Each time she filled up her glass and drank it, she moved a penny to the other side, until all the pennies were moved. Great reminder system!”
If she is using what most people consider a regular size glass, it holds more than one cup of water. The glass I use holds 2 ˝ cups of water. I fill it half way with ice and it still holds 2 cups of water. So if I fill it up 8 times… like the lady mentioned in the article… I’m drinking twice what it recommended.
At one time I knew how many pieces of ice from our ice maker melted down made half a cup of water. But we’re having to buy a bag every week to help our ice maker keep up this summer.
- 6/1/2012 1:21:08 PM
ransferfactor
products.com - 6/1/2012 11:00:06 AM