Drinking water is essential to your health. It is present in liquids, plain water and foods. It helps maintain the balance of body fluids. Your body is composed of 60% water which aids in digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature.
Many sources suggest drinking eight glasses (one half gallon) of water a day. This is a recommended amount to help replace the amount of water lost each day. Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health. Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates and during strenuous exercise.
Drinking water is essential when exercising. Water helps energize muscles. Muscle cells that don’t have adequate fluids don’t work as well and performance can suffer.
Water can help control calories. It doesn’t have any weight loss effects, but substituting it for higher calorie beverages will help. Water can increase metabolism and regulate appetite.
Some other benefits of water include healthy looking skin and normal bowel functions.
Water rich foods include fruits, vegetables, broth based soups, oatmeal and beans
An interesting fact is that bottled water is the second most popular drink behind soft drinks. I hope that is because people are consuming a significant amount of good tap water.
Fact or Fiction?
A person can live for about a month without food, but only about a week without water.