Although the old maxim to drink eight glasses of water a day is not founded on any scientific principles, water is still among the healthier choices people can make for what to drink. Water is one of the most important substances for a body’s healthy functioning, and because our bodies lose water with every breath and through sweating as well as excretion of waste materials, it is very important that the water lost be replaced. If the water you take in does not equal the water lost, you will become dehydrated. Although we can take in water from many sources, including water that is in the foods we eat or contained in other kinds of beverages, here are some of the reasons that the choice to drink plain water might be the most healthy choice when you’re thirsty.
Water has no calories
We naturally enjoy drinking fluids with our meals, but often discount how many calories we take in through drinking alone. A healthy meal can be entirely undercut by drinking a high-calorie drink with it, and many drinks, such as sugary sodas, contain many empty calories without any nutritional content. A healthy choice is to get calories alongside healthy nutrients, and it can be detrimental to add additional empty calories on top of that. Ordinary water has no calories but can easily quench your thirst at a meal so you can enjoy the healthy calories in your food. Some of our hunger can be thirst and so drinking a full glass of water before your main meals can help you eat less calories during your meal.
Water improves muscle performance
Drinking water is important when exercising in order to maintain good muscle functioning, but maintaining hydration can help your muscles even in ordinary, everyday tasks. Cells that do not get enough water will shrivel and can lead to muscle fatigue since those cells are not functioning appropriately. In order to maintain muscle functioning, it’s important to drink enough water, especially if you are exercising. In addition to drinking water during exercise, it is recommended that people drink water a few hours before exercising in order to energize their muscles and maximize the effectiveness of the exercise.
Water improves body functioning
In addition to the muscles, water is important for the functioning of many other parts of the body. The skin is a protective layer for the body and can help prevent excess fluid loss, but if the body does not get enough water, skin will dry out and may even promote wrinkling. Water is also important in maintaining the body’s internal temperature. Keeping your joints lubricated and cushioned relies on proper hydration, as does maintaining your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues. In fact, water is integral to nearly every part of your body, and reduced water intake can negatively affect almost all of your body’s systems.
Water helps with waste expulsion
The kidneys are instrumental in removing harmful materials from circulation in your body and passing those materials out of the body. But in order to do this, the kidneys require sufficient water to help with the filtering process. If the body does not get enough water, the kidneys will be less efficient and harmful materials will build up. In addition, your gastrointestinal tract requires water to keep solid waste material flowing. When you begin to get dehydrated, the colon may begin to extract water from stool in an attempt to maintain hydration. Lack of water can lead to constipation and further health problems related to constipation. It’s important to maintain sufficient amounts of water in the body to help in the removal of waste material.
Water is usually the healthiest option when selecting a drink, and water is integral to the normal and healthy functioning of the body. If you have any questions about your health or making healthy choices in your diet, be sure to contact Internal Medicine, Lipid, and Wellness of Fort Myers, Florida at (239) 362-3005, extension 200 today.
