Before you reach for a cup of coffee or other caffeinated beverage, try drinking more water!
A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration, some of which I’m sure many of you have experienced recently:
- fuzzy short-term memory,
- trouble with basic math, and
- difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen.
A 5% drop in body fluids will cause a 25 to 30% loss of energy in most people, a 15% drop causes death! It is also estimated that more than 2/3 of all people do not drink enough water and suffer some degree of dehydration. (source: www.healthynewage.com)
Most people turn to stimulants like caffeine and sugar to boost their energy level rather than drinking more water, which is what our body needs to produce natural energy. Caffeine, alcohol and sugar are all strong diuretics and actually cause your body to lose water, resulting in a further loss of natural energy production and eventually can lead to a dependency on artificial energy. (source: www.healthynewage.com)
Eight 8-ounce servings of water a day is a standard measurement of proper intake (that's 2 of the 32-oz Nalgene bottles). More is needed when in hot climates, exercising, and for the elderly. Intake should be spread throughout the day. Make sure you are drinking filtered water. If you must drink bottled water, make sure you do not reuse the water bottle (the chemical makeup of water bottles is not designed for multiple uses), and try to use the largest water bottle possible to avoid excessive waste.
- Water acts as a solvent, coolant, lubricant and transport agent.
- Keeps body temperature stable
- Carries nutrients
- Eliminates toxins and waste products (thus reducing burden on kidneys and liver)
- Maintains blood volume
- Provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues
- Provides the environment in which cellular chemical reactions take place
- Maintains skin elasticity
- Prevents you from confusing hunger with thirst.
- Keeps your body systems such as metabolism and digestion working properly
- Lubricates and cushions joints and muscles.
- Adds fluid to the colon and bulk to stool
- When sick: helps control a fever, replaces lost fluids, and thins out mucus.
http://www.intelihealth.com
www.healthynewage.com
source: www.healthynewage.com
Our body's detoxification system is probably the single most important component to optimum health, and the one process that relies most heavily on an excess intake of clean water.