You are here

OT - Tone-up Tuesday

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Water is Life. Did you know that water accounts for 60 percent of your body? That’s 11 gallons - or 92 pounds - in a 155-pound person. *shok* Water is essential to every cell. Some research has suggested that staying hydrated keeps your memory sharp, your mood stable and your motivation intact. You can also think through a problem more easily.

Staying hydrated doesn’t just impact your brain, though. Here are a few ways water benefits your body’s health. Here are a few ways water benefits your body's health.

Water helps prevent dry mouth.
Water keeps your throat and lips moist and prevents your mouth from feeling dry. Dry mouth can cause bad breath and/or an unpleasant taste–and can even promote cavities. Yikes!

Water promotes cardiovascular health.
Dehydration lowers your blood volume, so your heart must work harder to pump the reduced amount of blood and get enough oxygen to your cells, which makes everyday activities like walking up stairs–as well as exercise–more difficult.

Water keeps your body cool.
Your body releases heat by expanding blood vessels close to the skin’s surface (this is why your face gets red during exercise), resulting in more blood flow and more heat dissipated into the air. When you’re dehydrated, however, it takes a higher environmental temperature to trigger blood vessels to widen, so you stay hotter.

Water helps muscles and joints work better.
When you’re well hydrated, the water inside and outside the cells of contracting muscles provides adequate nutrients and removes waste efficiently so you perform better. Water is also important for lubricating joints. Contrary to popular belief, muscle cramps do not appear to be related to dehydration, but, instead, to muscle fatigue, according to Sam Cheuvront, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist.

Water keeps skin supple.
When a person is severely dehydrated, skin is less elastic. This is different than dry skin, which is usually the result of soap, hot water and exposure to dry air. And, no, unfortunately, drinking lots of water won’t prevent wrinkles.

Water helps cleanse your body — inside and out.
Your kidneys need water to filter waste from the blood and excrete it in urine. Keeping hydrated may also help prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones. If you are severely dehydrated, your kidneys may stop working, causing toxins to build up in your body.

Drinking fluid during exercise is necessary to replace fluids lost in sweat. This action will reduce the risk of heat stress, maintain normal muscle function, and prevent performance decreases due to dehydration.

Stay hydrated gradually, throughout the day. Drink fluids, or eat water-rich foods. A healthy person needs 30 to 50 ounces of fluid per day. Drinking fluids is crucial to staying healthy and maintaining the function of every system in your body, including your heart, brain, and muscles.

BONUS:  When skin is well-hydrated, it is more plump and resilient. Hyaluronic acid in the skin causes it to hold water. When there is sufficient water on the inside, skin looks healthier and more vibrant and is less prone to wrinkles. It is important to drink lots of fluids throughout the day for best results.

 

What's your favorite water? Tap? Bottled? I like our tap water at home and keep a bottle in the refrigerator so it's always nice and cold. When I have to go for Physical Therapy, I freeze an inch or so of water in an old gatorade bottle, then top it with water. I'm a fan of Klarbrunn and LaCroix. Both are sparkling waters with NO carbs, NO calories, and NO chemicals. Just water, bubbles, and flavor essence.

Comments

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

I'll drink ANY water... I don't even thinik I have a favorite. That's 95% of what I drink (the other 5% is the occasional smoothie or poweraide zero....)

It was a good reminder though! I'm giving a presentation to about 35 clients this morning! I totally forgot about hydration so I can talk during it all.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

I don't like the waters with chemicals - artifical sweeteners, etc. SmartWater tastes icky. Fiji is the only bottled water I drink. The others taste wonky.

ProbablyAlreadyInsane's picture

That's fair Aniki! I bought one of those water filter pitchers that I keep in the fridge at home Smile That's amazing water.

ESMOD's picture

I drink a lot of the sparkling water like lacroix... (though I usually buy the store brand).  I hate the flavored waters with sweeteners of any kind.  I will usually add a splash of grapefruit or cranberry juice to my water.  When I say splash.. maybe an ounce for ever 12 oz can.  I pour it in my mermaid tervis cup at work.  I also have a huge yeti insulated cup that I fill with double that for long road trips.  I thought i would never use the yeti (was a gift) because it was so big, but it works well for long road trips to have something cool to sip without succumbing to the rest  stop sodas.

My 2nd favorite is light beer which is very close to sparkling water...lmao.

 

Aniki-Moderator's picture

ESMOD, those sweeteners are YUCKY.

The only thing I've ever added to LaCroix is whiskey.

queensway's picture

I am not picky about water. I love to drink water and much prefer that over anything else when eating a meal. I do not like the taste of well water. Anything else I am fine with.

I hate the days when I am busy and can't drink as much water as I like. I do notice a difference in the way I feel when that happens.

Aniki-Moderator's picture

Queen, I believe it depends on the well water. If you've grown up with it, you may find that well water preferable. I've had some that's good and some that's awful.

After suffering from heat stroke, I'm quite diligent about hydrating.

thinkthrice's picture

however we do have a Kinetico reverse osmosis and Kinetico water softening unit for our well water at home. . . which gets run through the Samsung frig filter.   Pretty excellent.