Liquid Love: Ten Reasons to Drink More Water
Aug 19, 2010; 2:09 PM ET
We hear about importance of drinking enough water constantly. On the flip side, there's been a growing trend in the media lately that the commonly recommended eight cups of water a day is a myth, which is technically accurate, but not the whole story. Whether you need eight cups of water daily--or four or ten--most people are not getting the message that whatever their particular water needs are, they aren't meeting them.
And even dietitians, nutritionists, and medical professionals are contributing to the problem by informing people that they get enough water in their diet in the form of fruits and vegetables. That might be true for some people, but after assessing the diets of countless people, I assure you, that isn't the case for most people.
Plus, have you ever noticed that when you throw vegetables in a pan and turn on the heat you'll see liquid in the pan soon afterward, and then shortly after that you'll see steam rising from them? That's because you're literally cooking the water out of the vegetables. Researchers estimate that half of the world's population is chronically dehydrated. And in America, that level is even higher at 75 percent of the population.
More than two-thirds of your body weight is water. Without adequate water, your body's biochemical and electrical (yes, electrical; read on!) processes begin to break down. The list of reasons your body needs water is as plentiful as the functions in your body, but these ten are a great place to start.
1. Your blood is over 80 percent water and needs water to make healthy new blood cells.
2. Your bones are over 50 percent water and-you guessed it-need water to make healthy new bone cells.
3. Drinking more water actually helps lessen pain in your body by getting your lymphatic system moving. The lymphatic system is a network of nodes, tubes, vessels, and fluid that move waste out of your tissues. It requires water to function properly.
4. Water helps to eliminate wastes and toxins from your body through the lymphatic system, kidneys, and intestines.
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