You have already heard many times that water is important for health, but do you know why that is so? This substance makes up most of the body mass of the human body and is involved in many important functions, including:
- elimination of harmful substances from the body
- regulation of body temperature
- maintenance of normal brain function.
In the rest of the text, find out more about other health benefits of water.
1. It helps in the production of saliva
Water is the main component of saliva. Saliva also contains small amounts of electrolytes, mucus and enzymes. It is necessary for breaking down solid food and maintaining the health of the oral cavity. As a result of insufficient water intake, due to aging, excessive water loss or due to some diseases, the amount of saliva in the oral cavity can decrease, which can also result in certain diseases.
2. Regulates body temperature
Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining body temperature. Your body loses water through sweat during physical activity and in hot environments. Sweat keeps the body cool, but your body temperature will rise if you don't replace the lost water. This is because your body loses electrolytes and plasma when it is dehydrated. If you sweat more than usual, be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
3. Protects your tissues, spinal cord and joints
Water helps lubricate and reduce friction in the joints, spinal cord and tissues. This will help you enjoy physical activity and reduce the discomfort caused by diseases such as arthritis.
4. It helps in the excretion of harmful substances through sweating, urination and defecation
Your body uses water to make sweat, urine, and feces. Sweat regulates body temperature when you exercise or stay in warm temperatures. You need water to replace the fluid lost from sweat. You also need enough water in your body to have healthy stools and to avoid constipation. The kidneys are also important for filtering waste materials through urination. Adequate water intake helps the kidneys work more efficiently and prevents the formation of kidney stones.
5. Helps maximize physical performance
Drinking plenty of water during physical activity is essential. Athletes can lose 6 to 10 percent of their body mass during extreme physical activity. Hydration also affects your stamina. If you exercise in the heat and do not drink enough fluids, serious hypotension (drop in blood pressure) and epileptic seizures may occur.
6. Helps prevent constipation
Eating fiber isn't the only way to prevent constipation. It is very important to consume sufficient amounts of water in order to form a normal stool. If you are not getting enough water, magnesium and fiber, you are more likely to be constipated.
7. It helps in digestion of food
Some scientists claim that the consumption of water before, during and after a meal helps the body to absorb ingested substances more easily. Some others claim that it is not so. Additional research on the impact of water consumption during meals is needed.
8. It helps in the absorption of nutrients
In addition to helping break down food, water also helps dissolve vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from ingested food. Re-creation is a prerequisite for adequate absorption of these substances.
9. It helps you lose weight
Consuming more water during physical activity or during diet can contribute to better and faster weight loss.
10. Improves blood oxygen circulation
Water carries useful nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. The optimal amount of water in your body will improve circulation and accelerate the flow of oxygen and nutrients to all organs in the body.
11. It helps in the fight against diseases
Drinking enough water can help prevent certain health conditions, such as:
- prison
- kidney stone
- urinary tract infection
- hypertension
Water also helps you absorb important vitamins, minerals and nutrients from your food, which will increase your chances of staying healthy.
12. Water supports metabolism
Drinking water can activate your metabolism. Strengthening the metabolism is associated with a positive impact on the energy level.
13. It helps with cognitive functions
Proper hydration is key to maintaining brain health, and therefore cognitive functions. Memory, alertness and emotions depend on the intake of water in the body.
14. Helps improve mood
Lack of water can also affect your mood. Dehydration can result in fatigue and confusion, as well as anxiety.
15. Keeps the skin healthy
Adequate water intake will help keep your skin hydrated and can boost collagen production.
16. Prevents dehydration
Dehydration occurs due to a lack of water in the body. Severe dehydration can result in numerous serious complications, including: epileptic seizures, kidney failure, etc. Be sure to drink enough water to replace what is lost through sweat, urination, and feces to avoid dehydration.
How much water is best?
In the end, no one can tell you exactly how much water you need. That depends on you.
Try to experiment and experience what amount is best for you. Some people may function better with more water than usual, while for others it just results in more frequent trips to the bathroom.
If you want to keep things simple, the following guidelines should "work" for most people:
When you're thirsty, drink.
When you are no longer thirsty, stop.
During extreme heat and exercise, be sure to drink enough to replace lost fluids.
How long can a person survive without water?
Without water intake, a person becomes very exhausted already after 24 hours, after 48 hours he is in serious health problems, and after 72 hours - he no longer has any earthly problems.
Water is the carrier of life and it is necessary to constantly take it in because the body constantly loses water - primarily through urine, breathing and sweat. To prevent dehydration, you should drink an adequate amount of water when you feel thirsty.
When should you drink more water?
If you sweat a lot, be sure to replace the lost fluid with water. Athletes who have very long training sessions, or do intense exercises, also need to replenish electrolytes along with water.
If you breastfeed your baby - the need for water increases. It is similar with disease states - elevated temperature, as well as with some diseases that are accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.
One of the characteristics of diabetes is an increased need for water - so be careful if you "request" large amounts of water.
Furthermore, older people may need to consciously watch their water intake because the thirst mechanism can stop working properly in old age.
Don't forget about your discs, because disc herniation in most cases occurs when these fluid-filled cushions shrink and thus lose their cushioning effect, and this happens due to the aging of the body.
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