The Power of Hydration

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Introduction

One of the most critical components of an individual’s fitness is actually drinking enough water. We tend to neglect our own bodies by forgetting to drink water. Fact is that our body is made up of approximately 70% water and our muscles, lungs, and brain all are composed of a lot of water. Losing just 2% of that water causes dehydration and our bodies work less efficiently. Water performs many functions for our body from body temperature regulation to nutrient uptake and the removal of toxins. For people who are serious about getting healthy, water intake is just as important as how much rest they get and what types of food they eat. Since the American diet is the number one contributor to acidity in the body, it is important to replenish and detoxify your body by drinking enough quality water. If you increase your water intake, you will be able to see differences in your skin texture, your bodily functions, your mood, and your energy.Dehydration

Water intake is essential to healthy living and not drinking enough of it leaves the body dehydrated. Water loss occurs via sweating, urinating, and respiring. In addition to this, if you consume diuretics like coffee or alcohol, your body is forced to expel even more water. It is necessary to replenish this water otherwise you can lose your energy and see the negative repercussions of dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration can include pain in the muscles and joints, headaches, dry skin, fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, nausea, confusion, dry mouth, or constipation. Even adding a little water to your diet can change your lifestyle in a major way. Drinking two glasses of water right after you brush your teeth can reduce constipation by stimulating peristalsis and can improve your blood circulation. If you drink water on an empty stomach, it is absorbed much faster than if you drank water on a full stomach. These small tips can reduce your chances of dehydration and can prove to be beneficial to your health.

The American Diet: Chockfull of Acidity

The reason why our bodies need more water than most other individuals around the world is not just related to weather, but rather diet. Americans on average eat a variety of foods that are extremely high in acid and thus Americans have high rates of food-related disease. The American diet includes meat (pork, beef, turkey, and chicken), dairy (cheese, milk, and butter), grains (rice and barley), drinks (coffee, tea, soft drinks, fruit juices), and simple carbohydrates (pasta, bread, potatoes), all of which are acidic. Having a large amount of acid in the body and not being able to reduce your body’s acidity is the chief cause of certain diseases or symptoms that include: acid reflux, high levels of cholesterol, heart disease, high levels of fat, arthritis, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, stroke, and many other inflammatory reactions.

What Can Water Do to that Acidity?

First of all, drinking room-temperature before a meal can increase your digestive capacity while at the same time make you eat less. This also serves to decrease the amount of water you drink during your meal, which hinders your nutritive absorption. This is an effective weight loss solution as drinking water will reduce the amount you eat and increase your metabolism. To combat acid, our body relies on fats. As much as we don’t like fat because of weight gain, it is one of the components that save us from the negative repercussions of excess acid. If you drink slightly alkaline water, your body releases some of your fat cells and reduces the acidity in your system. In conclusion, drink a lot of water and your body will reduce its acidity and keep you from excess acid buildup, the leading cause of fatigue in athletes!

How Much Water Should You Drink?

This is a question that has many different answers. It all depends on your lifestyle. It matters how much you eat, what you eat, how much you exercise, what you are doing to exercise, what the weather is, and how many toxins you put in your body. Ideally, drink a glass of water every 1 – 1½ hours. If you are out in the hot sun, drink a glass or two of water 2 hours before and 2 hours after you exercise. You should drink 5-9 oz. every 20 minutes during the exercise in order to properly refuel your water reservoir. Be mindful about how much water you are drinking because in the end the body can properly detoxify, replenish, and maintain your body’s health.

Closing Remarks:

Water has innumerable benefits and I can only name a few. A proper intake of water maintains your blood volume and keeps the concentration of your blood low, reduces the chances of cardiovascular diseases such as ; heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure. It also flushes the toxins out of your body through sweat and urination, minimizes your chances of getting colon, breast, and bladder cancer, and helps you to lose weight. Water is the masked cure that we all could use and we are the ones that can benefit from being aware, no one else. Stay healthy and drink some water!