Benefits of Water!!

 (Should have Photoshopped myself in ‘The Waterboy’ poster….)

You would think that the fact your body is made up of 55% to 78% water (depending on body size) then you would want to ensure you get an adequate intake of the H20 goodness each day, however it’s amazing at the number of people who don’t!
Then again I never knew myself until about 3-4 months ago (February 5^th, 2012 to be exact) of the true health benefits either, since then started an intake of at least a gallon a day.  I have benefited extremely well in overall mood, health, and physical performance…not only that but since my main liquid intake has been water it has helped me save money on drinks that I would normally purchase (juice, soda, etc.). 
With all this being said lets go into the benefits (anddd the precautions) of drinking water.

Lose Weight!

                Water can indeed help you lose weight believe it or not - think about it if you consume a 16oz. glass of water before eating you will eat much less because the water makes you feel fuller and boosts your metabolic levels, meaning that it speeds your digestion process.  Next time you feel those senses of hunger just drink a glass of water first.  Not only that but water assists in the digestion process

Look younger

                Water assists in the replenishment of skin tissues, moisturizing of skin, and while not 100% proven assists with the degeneration or prevention of wrinkles.  Another fun fact is water represents 75% (that’s a lot!) of our face and throughout the day is lost through sweat and peeing.  With that being said you can make of for that deficit by keeping yourself hydrated…through my own 3-4 month test I definitely see a difference in facial appearance and not to toot my own horn, do get a lot of comments about looking a lot younger than I actually am J

More Energy, Less Fatigue

                Normally if you get that crash at work or ever feel tired throughout the day, it could have to do with an inadequate fluid intake.  Just sipping a bottle of the clear goodness here and there can ward off fatigue, dehydration, and keep you energized!  Same goes with your daily runs or workouts as well, as water helps in the fueling of muscles….for example, when dehydrated your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to your organs in order to perform activity, thus would make you feel exhausted….

It’s not to say for exercise this should be your primary intake, however, a supplement aid mixed with water pre-workout will definitely help with a more energetic boost, though I don’t want to go off on a huge tangent here!

Amount of water Consumption Recommendation

                Ever hear that saying ‘you should drink 8 glasses of water each day?’  That saying is somewhat true to a certain extent…however a 120 pound female definitely doesn’t need the same intake as a 200 pound male.  The recommended daily intake is said to be at least ½ your body weight in ounces, however does depend on if you are physically active, then it will be a lot more.  There is actually a website with a calculator you can use to get an idea of how much you should drink each day, which I will happily provide:
                                http://www.calculatorslive.com/Daily-Water-Intake-Calculator.aspx

Drinking too much Water (Hyponatremia)

                I felt the need to at least touch on it so you don’t get any ideas of drinking a gallon of water in one sitting J

                Known as Hyponatremia (water intoxication)this is defined as ‘low blood sodium' in the body from drinking too much H20.  This can be caused by drinking too much at one period of time without supplementing your body with the other proper nutrients it needs to function.  Again its rare and shouldn’t be anything to really worry about, though if you are playing a sport or exercising for an extended period of time it is suggested to supplement water with an electrolyte beverage (Gatorade) just do you don’t lose your bodies’ nutrients.

In summary you can see, for the most part the awesome and healthful benefits of drinking water!  Your overall mood, physical health and performance increases.  Keep in mind it’s not going to happen overnight but try to consume more water every day for a couple weeks and see for yourself how it will better benefit you…of course one of the only downfalls may be that you may pee a little more J 

Until next week, take action and stay JustInspired!    

Sources:

http://www.improving-health-and-energy.com/health-benefit-of-water.html

http://www.mangosteen-natural-remedies.com/benefits-of-drinking-water.html