Water consumption is perhaps one of the many things that gets overlooked by most people when it comes down to health and wellness. It’s different from every person on why they find it hard to drink water. One reason is because people tend to want something with flavor or they just genuinely forget to drink water because sodas and juices are drank before water . Many people will also not like the constant bathroom breaks. What we tend to not think about is our bodies are made out of 60% water.
Have you ever wondered just exactly what it does in the body, or what specific body parts are affected or rely on water? Well to start off we rely on water to deliver oxygen throughout the body. Our blood is more than 90 percent water, and blood carries oxygen to different parts of the body. Let’s not forget oxygen is one of the atoms in water.Water also helps lubricate our joints. Cartilage in joints and the disks of the spine both contain around 80 percent water. If you battle high blood pressure one cause could be from not drinking enough water. A lack of water can cause blood to become thicker, increasing blood pressure.Without water we wouldn’t have anything to cushion the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues.
Have you ever found it hard to use the restroom? Well that may be because the digestive system depends on water. The bowel needs water to work properly in order to dispose of the waste. Without water our body can not make minerals and nutrients accessible either. Once broken down by hydrolysis (process of breaking with water), it makes it possible for them to reach different parts of the body.Another important organ in our body that relies on water is our kidney. To prevent kidney damage, you want to ensure a proper water consumption. The kidneys regulate fluid in the body.
Water also assists in regulating body temperature. Water that is stored in the middle layers of the skin comes to the skin’s surface as sweat when the body heats up. As it evaporates, it cools the body. The less water you have, the less likely you will tolerate heat. Having a lot of water in the body may reduce physical strain if heat stress occurs during exercise. Fueling the body with water allows the body temperature to lower as well as your cells to fill up again.
There is no better feeling then completing an extremely difficult workout and taking a drink of ice cold water. Sometimes you may find by taking that rest and drink of water it gives you a little boost to get you through your workout. When exercising in the heat, sweating excessively, and not drinking enough water you may find your self dehydrated. Dehydration during exercise may hinder performance.
Dehydration is a condition when there is a harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body. We’ve discussed all the functions of water per different body part, but what are the side effects of not enough water for each? When dehydrated you may experience digestive problems, constipation, and an overly acidic stomach. This increases the risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers. Dehydration also can reduce the joints’ shock-absorbing ability and affect brain function. Water also is involved in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters. Prolonged dehydration can lead to problems with thinking and reasoning.
There are also some additional benefits to proper water consumption. If you are having a hard time steering away from snacking it helps keep you feeling full to prevent bored eating. One side effect of drinking a lot of water at first may be weight gain, but don’t worry! Water weight will happen but as your body absorbs it to refuel, the “extra” weight goes down. Now I am sure after all of this you are wondering just exactly how much water should one drink?The amount of water one should consume varies depending on the individuals activity, but aim to drink ½-1 gallon of water a day to treat your body! We hope this helps with some questions you may have been having on water consumption over this hot summer.
Works cited
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water
https://www.livestrong.com/article/429906-does-drinking-water-affect-food-digestion/
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