Our bodies are made up of mostly water. 60% of the human body is made up of water. Here are some rough estimates of where we store water in our body.
- The brain and the heart contain approximately 70% water.
- The lungs have a surprising 80% water.
- The skin holds approximately 60% water.
- The muscles and kidneys keep 80% water
- The bones will hold around 30%.
Helps control addictions
Drinking a lot of water helps control addictions like caffeine coffee or drugs. When you reach for another cigarette try drinking two big glasses of water first and see if you still feel like smoking, the same goes for that second or third cup of coffee.
Distributes Oxygen to the muscles
Keeping the body hydrated puts more water in the blood which will facilitate the red blood cells to carry oxygen to the muscles which results in good muscular function. The heart pumps the blood to circulate the Oxygen to the muscles amongst other nutrients. When the body is dehydrated, the heart will pump faster to distribute the oxygen to the muscles. The muscles get less Oxygen and the heart has to work harder.
The blood needs water to distribute important nutrients to the body
When the body is well hydrated it also can absorb and assimilate minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose and other substances. Drinking enough water repairs your cells which will keep your immune system in top shape.
More mental Clarity and focus
When oxygen is delivered to the brain this brings more mental clarity. Water prevents memory loss as you age. When you don’t drink enough water, it can affect your focus and alertness.
Dehydration can also affect your mood.
When you don’t drink enough water, you may find yourself unfocused, tired, confused and then this can turn into anxiety. So, if you are feeling unwell, nervous and agitated start by drinking two big glasses of water.
Water helps eliminate toxins
Water helps the body sweat and release toxins. Water carries the toxins to the liver and kidneys where they will be removed from the body through our stools. Without enough water the body is not able to complete this elimination process. It is important that your bowel movements contain enough water to prevent constipation.
The kidneys also are a part of the elimination process and eliminate wastes through urination. When the kidneys aren’t hydrated enough they can’t work well and this can eventually cause kidney stones.
When you sweat, you lose water through your skin. Sweating helps you manage your body temperature and cools off the body when you are hot. Replenishing the water in your body is vital to prevent the temperature from rising after you sweat since the body is low on electrolytes and plasma.
Water is a lubrication for the joints
There is a synovial fluid between the joints that keeps the bones from rubbing together. Keeping hydrated helps cushion the joints and manage arthritis and back pains.
Water keeps your skin smooth
My favorite is that water slows down the aging process and keeps the skin smooth.
It is important to drink early and often and not wait until you are thirsty. It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day. A way to assess if you are dehydrated is to check the color of your urine. If it is dark that indicates that you are not drinking enough. It should be pale and almost no color at all to indicate good hydration.
Recommended water intake
I suggest that you keep track of your water intake by measuring. If you carry with you a bottle that is 500 ml then you know you must drink 4 bottles to get the right amount of water. Be mindful of how much you drink and set a goal to drink early and often. Don’t wait until the end of the day to catch up as that will interrupt your sleep when you have to get up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
It is also important to have good drinking water. Either invest in a water filter or buy filtered water.