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Water is the source of all life:
Did you know that there are in excess of 60 billion planets in our galaxy alone which could potentially support life? And this is because all of these planets contain one essential compound called ‘water,’ which dissolves and transports chemicals causing important metabolic reactions needed to sustain all life. Essentially, water is the source of all life and without it nothing can exist.
Why is water so important to us:
Given that your body is around 70% water, it’s critical to keep hydrated to ensure that it functions properly. There are many benefits of drinking water but here are some of the main ones;
Water…
*Helps to maintain electrolyte balance including things like sodium and potassium which are all essential to every day function. This includes things like keeping your blood pressure stable, regulating your heart beat, providing energy to get through the day and by allowing your muscles to contract properly. And if you’ve ever tried to exercise whilst dehydrated or even worse hung over, then you’d know how hard it is to get moving.
*Prevents illness – by helping your body to maintain a healthy PH (water is neutral) and also by helping your body to flush out toxins, reduce bad bacteria and infections, which can lead to more serious forms of disease.
*Prevents mental health issues – in many cases, things like anxiety and depression can be alleviated simply by staying hydrated.
*Helps to keep your skin hydrated – this leads to healthier skin which not only helps you to look younger but also helps to prevent things like acne too.
*Aids digestion – water keeps things flowing through your intestinal tract and kidneys keeping you regular which is so important.
*Is great for lots of other things such as decreasing headaches, preventing kidney stones, losing weight and much more.
How much water do we need:
We are constantly losing water primarily through our sweat and urine, so it needs to be replaced. Everybody is different, but it is recommended that we need to be drinking around 2+ litres of water per day. This is known as the 8×8 rule – 8 glasses 8 times per day. Obviously, if you are exercising or if the weather is warm you will probably need more than this. I drink about 3+litres per day and find that works for me. The best advice is to listen to your body, but in doing so, also don’t rely on your thirst mechanism which is not a reliable indicator of hydration. This is because by the time your mouth is dry and you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated (and usually by about 4+ glasses). By drinking water regularly instead of waiting to feel thirsty, you can ensure that you don’t become dehydrated.
It’s also important to realise that it is easy for your brain to mistake thirst for hunger, when in actual fact it’s your body just craving water. Instead, be mindful of how you feel and function. Before you feel thirsty, some other signs you can look for to determine if you are dehydrated include fatigue, confusion, muscle aches, stomach and joint pain. You can also monitor the colour of your urine; generally if its darker then you may be dehydrated.
Few of us are drinking enough water:
Despite the importance of drinking enough water, 80% of us are failing to do so. We are also consuming much less water in what we eat than we once did too. This is because processed foods, which today have become somewhat the norm, virtually have all of the water sucked out of them. This is the opposite to whole foods like vegetables which are full of water. But other than advising you to eat more veggies, here are some common reasons for not drinking enough water and how to overcome them
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