Tuesday, March 7, 2006

9 Benefits of Water to the Body


Do you know precisely how water benefits the health of the body? Maybe you have heard or read some time ago that water is a component vital to the body. That, in fact, water is more than just a thirst quencher; routinely drinking 8 - 10 glasses of water per day can helps the various bodily systems function optimally.

 

1. Healthy skin. Drinking enough water guards the level of moisture in the skin and protects it from external drying factors, such as the heat. Water is very important for preserving the elasticity and softness of the skin, as well as guarding against dryness.

2. Protects and lubricates muscle and joint movements. A large segment of the fluids protecting and lubricating muscle and joint movements is water. Drinking water before, during and after physical activity means minimizing the risk of muscle cramping and fatigue.

3. Stabilizes body temperature. Sweating is a mechanism for controlling the temperature of the body. In order to sweat, the body requires an adequate supply of water.

4. Clears away toxins. The adequate consumption of water assists the kidneys and liver to expel toxins from the body.

5. Stabilizes Digestion. The consumption of adequate amounts of water assists the digestive process that takes place in the large intestine. This helps prevent constipation by facilitating the movement of the intestines so that waste (feces) can be expelled easily.

6. Fulfills the body’s need for liquid. On the average, every adult loses approximately 10 glasses of fluid daily. The release of these fluids occurs through sweating, breathing, urinating and defecating. Any deficit in bodily fluids, even a minimal one, can cause major disturbances, such as headaches, fatigue and anxiety.

7. Minimizes risk of heart attack. Researchers at Loma Linda University in California did a study of 20,000 healthy men and women, and found that the respondents who drank 5 or more glasses of water per day, had a decreased risk of heart attack in comparison to those who drank fewer than 2 glasses of water a day.

8. Minimizes risk of infection of bodily organs. The adequate consumption of water can prevent the formation of kidney stones and decrease the risk of infection of the kidneys and the urinary tract. Results of a study published by JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association) pat the end of 2004, states that women who drink at least 5 glasses of water every day have a 45% smaller chance of experiencing intestinal cancer than those drinking only 2 glasses daily.

9. Restores Bodily Condition. Consumption of adequate amounts of water when ill has the benefit of reducing fever and replacing lost bodily fluids, which facilitates healing.


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