When it comes to healthy living, people are often so caught up with eating fruits, vegetables, salads, quinoa and the like, that they often overlook one of the cheapest and most simplest staples in the entire world – water. Of course healthy eating is incredibly important, and all of those aforementioned foods, and many more besides, are considered incredibly beneficial, but the problem is that a lot of the time, people will find themselves eating a plate of steamed cod and veggies, and washing the entire meal down with a chemical-laden bottle, or can, of “diet” soda. These beverages are pumped full of chemicals and artificial ingredients, and they do the body no good in the slightest. Their primary ingredient for example, is artificial sweetener such as aspartame, which has been made in a lab, and has been heavily linked with a whole host of medical conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. We’re not saying that you should instead drink full sugar cola instead of sugar-free, what we are saying however, is that you should drink plenty of fresh water instead. Water is the natural life giver, and it is absolutely essential for our health and well-being. If you’re lost in the wilderness for example, you will be able to go for weeks without food, yet if you were to go 48 hours without water, you’d be in very serious trouble indeed, and would not last much longer. Here’s a look at six reasons to drink more water.
Relieves fatigue and boosts energy levels
Your brain is arguably your most important organ in your entire body, and what you may not have realised, is that it is comprised of more than 70% water. Naturally then, it requires adequate hydration in order to function correctly, which is why drinking fresh water has been found to boost energy levels and relieve fatigue as it reduces the secretion of hormones that make us feel tired and sleepy, and boosts the production of hormones and chemicals that make us feel alert and focused.
Water helps assist with weight loss
Another fantastic benefit associated with drinking fresh water, is the fact that it has been proven to assist with weight loss, making it ideal for people who are dieting, or who are looking at keeping their weight under control. To begin with, water is virtually calorie free, so you can drink as much of it as you like, within reason of course. On top of that however, it is also ideal for when you’re hungry and are feeling those hunger pains and cravings creep up on you, often during the evening. By drinking a pint of water when you’re feeling hungry, it actually fills your stomach and helps you to feel full for longer, so you therefore lose the hunger pains and the cravings. Studies have also revealed that drinking iced water can actually boost the metabolism and can assist with weight loss. The reason for this is that because the ice is so cold, it lowers the core body temperature, and so to warm itself up, the body requires energy, which it gets from calories stored as body fat.
Water increases the immune system
Another reason why you may wish to consider drinking more fresh water is the fact that it increases the immune system, especially if you opt for fresh mineral water. The immune system functions perfectly when it has access to plenty of nutrients, including minerals such as zinc, iron, potassium, and copper. As mineral water is packed full of minerals, shock horror, the immune system gets a real boost when you provide it with plenty of these nutrients. What does this mean for you? Well, it basically means that as your immune system will be healthier and functioning more efficiently, you’ll be less likely to become ill and if you do fall ill, you should recover much quicker. This is not only beneficial for protecting against colds and the flu, and other more common conditions, it can also help protect you against certain strains of cancer.
It improves digestion
When we consume food, our stomachs and digestive systems break these foods down and digest them, extracting all of the nutrients and then removing what is left over as waste, which is then excreted in the form of faeces. The digestive system contains a great deal of water, and requires water to help break the foods down in order to extract the nutrients, which means that drinking plenty of water can only be a good thing. This not only helps you to digest your food quicker, preventing indigestion, acid reflux, heart burn etc, it also means you can absorb more of the nutrients from the foods you consume. What’s more, being well hydrated also prevents constipation, which can be very painful and can make life very uncomfortable indeed.
Water helps to treat and prevent migraines and headaches
If you’ve ever suffered from a migraine, or a headache, severe or not, you’ll know just how awful they can be and how bad they can make you feel. People suffering with migraines for example, literally cannot function until it has passed, and often have to go and lie down in a dark room and wait it out. A number of studies however, have revealed that dehydration is often a root-cause of headaches or migraines, and that drinking water can actually treat them and prevent them.
Helps to rid the body of toxins
Every single day we’re constantly being exposed to harmful chemicals and toxins – they’re in the air we breathe, the products we use, and the foods we eat. If left alone, these toxins can attack our bodies and lead to cellular mutations which could cause cancer, as well as many other nasty health conditions in the process. Our two main filtration organs however: the liver and the kidneys, help to filter and flush these toxins out of our bodies before they do any damage. The more water we drink however, the more toxins we can flush from our bodies, mainly in the form of sweat, and urine.
