The Benefits of Drinking Water
Filed under Water | Comments (36)
No matter how well you eat, if you aren't drinking enough water you won't be healthy. I'm always surprised by the people I meet who say they don't drink much water. They live off soda or coffee or juice and they wonder why they never feel up to par.
While there is some disagreement over how much water is necessary, a good rule of thumb is to drink eight to twelve 8-ounce glasses per day. If you are active and exercise a lot, you may need more due to fluid loss through sweating.
What if I'm not thirsty? you ask. Well, by the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. If you eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, you may be getting a lot of water in your food and may not need to drink as much as those who subsist on packaged, dry foods alone. A good way to make sure to stay hydrated is to drink 16 ounces of water upon waking in the morning. This gets your body off to a good start for the day, rehydrates your body after a long period of sleep, and wakes your body up much better than coffee. You'll feel great knowing you've already consumed two glasses of water. Try adding the juice of half a lemon for a great morning start.
On the flipside, too much water can be dangerous. Many runners and hikers experience hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when athletes consume massive amounts of water over the course of a run or hike, especially in hot weather, causing salt levels in the blood to fall dangerously low. If electrolytes are not replaced, the condition can be serious. In order to avoid this, athletes should make sure to balance high intake of water with appropriate salt intake or decrease the amount of water consumed. (To learn more about hyponatremia in athletes, check out Salt and the Athlete.)
Drinking too much water can also lead to electrolyte imbalances in non-athletes. Like all things in life, too much of a good thing can be bad. It's up to you to determine your water needs based on your activity level and to make sure you are getting enough sodium in your diet, especially in hot weather when you tend to sweat more and drink more fluids.
What kind of water is best to drink? Bottled water is more popular than ever, and for good reason. Tap water often tastes bad and, depending on where you live, it can contain unwanted contaminants. If you choose bottled water, the choices can be overwhelming. Some things you might see on the bottles include: spring water, distilled water, natural artesan water, mountain spring water, alpine spring water, and more. Confused yet? Adding to the confusion is the fact that many bottled water companies have been accused of putting misleading labels on their bottles. If you're really serious about your water, do the research on each company and find out which brand is best for you.
Whether you're a health nut or a couch potato, you need water. If you don't like plain water, try adding a few drops of fresh lemon or lime juice to make it more palatable. The problem may also be the kind of water you're drinking. If you don't drink tap water because it tastes bad, try bottled water. If you don't like the taste of your bottled water, try another brand. There's no excuse for not drinking water. Our bodies are 60-75% water, not 60-75% soda. Perhaps the old saying you are what you eat should be you are what you drink.
I have never really liked the taste of water. I know that sounds weird but it's true.
So I always flavored it with a little fruit juice. I decided that wasn't very healthy so I started putting a little lemon juice in it. That really helped and over a few months I found that drinking it plain was O.K. Guess you just have to acquire a taste! I only drink bottled water though.
Does anyone have any insights into drinking distilled versus spring water? I drank distilled for years after reading articles saying it was better, but have recently switched back to spring. So many articles on distilled "leaching" minerals from your body. And so many "experts" saying conflicting things.
I've been a huge water drinker all my life. I actually don't care much for other drinks, even alcoholic ones.
In the winter I drink a lot of tea (because I like the warmth) but for the most part it's all water for me.
I think that other drinks carry empty calories and I've never been a fan of artificial sweeteners.
I've been drinking bottled water for about 20 years and usually don't care much what brand it is, as long as it isn't Los Angeles tap water. I even tried getting a filter system for my kitchen and I still can't stand the taste.
I have been drinking water for a long time now, and have chosen several brands but found that NESTLE water was the best for me.
I had just started drinking more water recently although I guess I always have, but my water intake now has increased because if I continue to drink diet soda then it's not good for my esophigus and I like Dasani, but Fiji is good, too.
When I was younger I had no idea about what it takes to be healthy and I didn't really care either. I hated water and ALWAYS drank soda to satisfied my thirst. As I got older and educated myself, I cut out the soda and loaded my fridge with water. I can honestly say that I feel alive now. I have much more energy, my mind works better, I've lost weight and kept it off, and my skin has gotten as close to perfect as it can. It was a total change. I, for one prefer Fiji, Evian, Borsec or Zephyrhills. Dasani tastes like french tap water to me...just my opinion.
My husband worked for a leading water purifying company that did many tests on tap and bottled water to determine what materials were found in them. Ofcourse, tap water was nasty. Did you know that if they didn't put bleach in it, then it would be a different color than what you see? Also, any bottled spring water is yucky. Just think, it's like assuming that the earth's soil is clean enough to purify it. Look for reverse-osmosis purified bottled water. Evidently that tested really clean.-FYI
i quit drinking soda cold turkey and started drinking Glacier water from my supermarket and i lost 23 pounds. its a machine that dispenses water for 30 cents a gallon, its delicious and i highly recommend it
i like water very much. it is healthy
Drinking water is one of the best things you could do for your health. Not being properly hydrated makes you feel tired, sluggish, and just not up to par. When I started to drink more water, I noticed a lot more mental alertness and energy as well as better skin (had a little acne)
hi. the only thing i drink is water. i love it. i feel so healthy. but it doesn't seem to keep the weight off.
I have never been a water drinker until recently. I am not really sure why I started consistently drinking it, but for the last year or two I have been drinking water only. However, It was not until the last 5 - 6 weeks I have made an effort to drink at least 64oz per day and sometime even more. Since then, I have no Knee pain or joint pain. This is quite amazing as I have had consistent knee pain for the past 5 years or more. I am running and playing BBall again with no pain. On top of this I have been able to get up early in the morning and really just feel wonderful. As far as weight loss, I have pretty active so i can not say weather it has a difference or not, but I know that I am eating better as I am not finding myself snacking nearly as much as I have in the past.
Nothing can take the place of water.
Thanks all,
JG - Portland, OR
I have to have water in the morning. My stomach will hurt until I have water and it really helps! I have to have spring water. It is the only kind I like. I have also found that Fiji has a great taste with the benefit of a pretty bottle.
I'm doing a research paper on the benefits of drinking enough water. I thought I drink enough water in a day but I still always felt tired. When I started my research I found, I was drinking water but not quite enough. Now I drink more and have lots of energy even when I don't get enough sleep. I drink filtered tap water mostly but I perfer Fiji bottled.
RO water or Spring / mineral water? I've been doing my own research and test.
Our human body has a pH of 7.365, needs water to process most of the biological & chemical process in our body.
All biological process needs nutrition to aid in the process.
Needing a clean water is one point, whether the water itself gives energy or deplete the body's life's energy is another.
RO water does a tremendously good in ensuring a clean source of water.
However, being an nutritional empty plus pH acidic in nature, depletes the body nutritional reserves in the process of utilising it, as well as reversing the acidic effects to our balanced alkaline based.
Causing acidic level also encourage bacterial and free radical activities, which can lead to cancer or most degenerative diseases.
A good source should not only be clean, it must have nutritional benefits that gives the body's needs in exchanged of certain nutrition taken and being alkaline pH (pH 7.4 - 10) in nature like the most recommended Functional Food like the many organic fruits and vegetables.
Having a hexagon shape, smaller size water cluster that helps faster absorbtion & rich in stable hydrogen type of mineral that neutralize free radicals is an added advantage.
The best things is? I tried it, bought it, & I know where we can all buy it. Glad I share this here. Hope it'll help in achieving better health for our family & society.
kaifoong.nulife@gmail.com
EVER SINCE I HAVE STARTED DRINKING HOT WATER INSTEAD OF PLAIN BOTTLED-WATER,I HAVE GOT RID OF ACIDITY,NAUSEA AND STOMACH AILMENTS.NOW I JUST PREFER HOT-WATER AND NEVER DRINK ANY OTHER FORM OF WATER WHICH HAS RELIEVED ME OF JOINT-PAINS AND SINUCITUS.
I like water. It is the lubricant of life. I drink 3-5 16oz bottles a day, depending on if and how much I run that day. I like to add powdered Gatorade in one 16oz bottle each day for electrolytes.
But I LOVE BEER!
Water is the best discovery I have made. I drink between 100-120 ounces per day! My skin looks amazing, and I rarely feel tired (despite having iron defiency anemia).I have a new boyfriend, so I get very little sleep, but drinking water the next day helps to energize me!
Read this:
http://www.flp-aloevera.co.uk/water_benefits.htm
i drink lots of water every day and i am very healthy for a 56 year old and i lost 20 lbs in 4 months. figi water is the best.
I love drinking water! I've found that adding a bit of lemon or lime to two glasses of water a day really helps me with my headaches and stomach cramps. I absolutely hate tap water, and usually drink Nestle or Dasani, for some reason I can't stand the taste of Aquafina.
i like to drink tap water cuz i dont really have a choice.. WATER CAN BE EXPENSIVE! but its much better than what i was doing when i got fired from a job and was forced to fill up poland spring bottles from the toilet
I have been drinking about 3 liters of water a day for a week and I feel more active, and my skin has cleared up greatly.
I drink tap water all the time and my skin has really cleared up, even noticed my bags under my eyes are gone.
I drink hot water - like from the kettle. It's great! Really clears the palate. I don't know about the health benefits, I actually just like it. If you drink hot water too and are on facebook, join the new group "I drink hot water.."
In response to concerns regarding distilled water "leaching" out important minerals from your body, you should be ok if the water your drinking has a conductivity of over 50uS/cm. A conductivity of less than 50uS/cm may "leach" causing an electrolyte imbalance.
I drink hot water and have noticed a good change in my complexion it actually clears your stomach which inturn shows up on ur face.
u r all fruit loops
Very cool! I recently bought a shower filter http://www.pureshowers.co.uk and it has improved my skin and hair incredibly, my little beauty secret ;)
Thanks for sharing , I found nice guide at http://addcocktail.com
hlMNjy hi! http://msn.com my site
hlMNjy hi! http://msn.com my site
hlMNjy hi! http://msn.com my site
ARYDrd
ARYDrd
I drink Fiji water because it tastes the best and comes in a pretty bottle. Sometimes I slum it and drink Arrowhead, though. :)