THE IMPORTANCE ON DRINKING ENOUGH
WATER
It's our body's vital fuel, a health drink from
mother nature. It's calorie-free, inexpensive and
easily obtained. Yet few people follow the old fashioned
advice to drink eight glasses of water a day.
Most people drink when they are thirsty, but the
beverage of choice tends to be some other drink besides
water. Americans drink two or three glasses of plain
water a day, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture
survey conducted in the late 1970. Based on an analysis
of all fluid intake by adults, it is said to total
about two quarts of water a day, and this includes
water from foods and from other beverages. It's not
usually necessary to actually swallow two quarts of
plain water every day. However, people with special
problems such as kidney conditions might be exceptions.
Americans drink eight gallons of bottled water a
year, roughly two ounces or a quarter-cup a day, according
to the International Bottled Water Association. Californians
drink three times the national average of bottled
water, downing 24 gallons a year, or nearly a cup
a day. Climate and seasons of the year play a role
in one's thirst also, and just as we tend to perspire
more in the summer months, we also tend to drink more
water.
Boosting intake of plain water makes good sense,
many experts concur, because water eases digestion
and regulates body temperature.
Water also bathes the cells and accounts for about
60 percent of body weight. And it can help us exercise
longer and more efficiently. Drinking water can ward
off constipation and maybe even crankiness. An since
it's a natural appetite suppressant, water can help
us lose weight and keep it off. It can help keep skin
healthy, although it won't necessarily banish acne.
Who should drink water? We all should, but pregnant
women, nursing mothers and athletes should be especially
careful to drink a sufficient amount. When it is hot
or humid, upping water intake is also wise. There
are certain workers who seem to have a more difficult
time developing the water-drinking habit. Among those
who don't normally drink enough water are teachers,
airline attendants and nurses.
Drinking fluids, particularly, water, during exercise
reduces cardiovascular stress and improves performance.
After a strenuous workout, you have to replace the
fluids you have lost. Otherwise, you will suffer chronic
dehydration. Drink water before, during and after
exercising, and remember that water reduces body temperature
thus making the whole exercise process safer.
Water can be especially helpful for people with
a history of kidney stones because it dissolves calcium
in the urine, reducing the risk of stone formation.
Among physicians, urologists are probably most likely
to extol the virtues of water, And it has been documented
that drinking water mostly before 6 P.M. can reduce
the likelihood of nocturnal bathroom visits.
It is interesting to note also that water helps
prevent urinary tract infections, both for men and
for women. Too busy to count how many glasses a day
you drink? There are other ways to calculate if your
intake is sufficient. Dark-colored urine often suggest
you aren't drinking enough water. Get into the habit
by starting with a glass of water with every meal,
then work in a cup between meals.
