Water - Nature's Wonder Drug

It will not be wrong to say that we are made of water
because two-thirds of our body contains water. Blood,
muscles and bones are all made of water. So it is not
surprising that we must keep drinking water to remain alive.
We can remain without food for several days but without
water we feel tired and exhausted within hours. Water is a
wonder drug from nature, whose benefits are many.

Nourishment of the body - Blood is 83% water and muscles are
75% water. Water supplies the essential vitamins and
minerals produced in the digestion process to all the organs
of the body in the form of blood. We can flex our muscles
because they contain water. If they do not get water, they
cry out with a spasm or a cramp. Our brains also need water
to function well. Physicians advise pregnant women to drink
a large quantity of water since the embryo needs it for
growth.

Body's detoxification - Water is very essential to the
proper functioning of the liver and kidneys. These organs
function to clean up the system from waste products and
toxic substances. Water, as urine, mucus and sweat then
effectively transports these substances out of the body. If
water is not sufficient, then these substances form kidney
stones and other complications. Water also helps to maintain
the alkalinity of the digestive system.

Water keeps the skin young - Drinking lots of water
maintains the skin moisture levels, otherwise the skin
becomes dry and flaky. Water also nourishes the skin with
nutrients and keeps it smooth and elastic. It is the not so
closely guarded secret of many women who do not seem to age
with years. Regular water consumption cleans away the
accumulation of fat and helps in maintaining weight.

It is sad to see that many young people resort to coffee and
tea when they are thirsty. Even though they are aware that
caffeine products cause dehydration, they continue to drink
them. This leads to more dehydration. The best solution is
to drink water. If you do not like the plain taste of water,
add some lemon or lime for flavor.

Normal human beings require 8 glasses of water everyday. It
might vary depending on your age, weight and body size, but
not too much. If you engage in athletic activities, your
water requirements will be more than normal. No one has ever
reported sick because of drinking more water. Always carry a
water bottle with you so that you will not drink sodas and
other dehydrating fluids.

Your Body's Many Cries For Water

By Nicos Stylianou

The other day I finished reading a fascinating book named
"Your Body's Many Cries For Water". What impressed me the
most from reading this book, is that the author establishes
a clear association between the benefits of drinking water
and our overall wellness.

In order to support his arguments about the importance of
drinking water, the author goes on to prove, by using
medical facts, that just by getting into the habit of
regularly drinking water can relieve us from a number of
ailments that we all experience from time to time. Below, I
mention some of these ailments.

Headaches and migraines

We all suffer from headaches, or even worse migraines now
and then. Some of us more and some others less severely.
What you might find interesting to find out, is that more
often than not, we should blame ourselves for not drinking
enough water.

You see, 75% of our brain consists of water and when it
senses that there is shortage of it, it generates histamines
which cause pain and fatigue. The intention is to make us
slow down our activities, so as to maintain the minimum
water quantity that will allow our brain to function
properly.

So, the next time you think that your head will explode from
a splitting headache, resist the temptation of taking an
aspirin and do this: Drink a full glass of fresh, pure water
and then sit back and unwind for half an hour. More often
than not, you will be amazed. Your headache will just go
away!

When our back hurts

According to statistics, one out of four adults experiences
at least once in his lifetime the pain and distress
associated with a sore back. As the author claims in his
book, another one of the benefits of drinking water is that
it helps mitigate our suffering.

Let me explain.

As you might probably know, our backbone is made up of a
number of discs. While externally these discs are made up of
a hard shell, internally they are filled with water. When
the level of water inside is adequate, then they provide
ample support to the disc, helping it cope with the pressure
exerted on them when we move our upper body.

When we move our body, then pressure is exerted and released
on the discs depending on the type of movement. This creates
a suction which allows fluids in the body to enter the disc,
thus keeping them properly hydrated.

The problem begins when we don't replenish our body's
natural stock of water by drinking enough quantities. When
the discs are shifting, then there is not enough water
around them to be sucked inside, as explained above. The
result is devastating: The internal fluids are gradually
depleted and so the outer shell of the discs is no longer
supported. Without this support, our poor discs are
helpless, as the whole weight of the body is shifted on
them! Pain and swelling ensues, putting us in distress and
agony.

When our blood pressure goes up

Water also plays a vital role in the biological process
associated with high blood pressure.

According to medical experts, hypertension very often
happens when our body detects blood volume loss. Since our
blood is more than 83% water, then the most common cause of
blood volume loss is dehydration.

Our body's internal mechanisms have the ability to monitor
the level of our blood volume. When there is an alert that
this volume has fallen below acceptable limits, then our
body switches into an emergency mode, directing supply of
blood only to vital organs switching everything else off.
This redistribution of the circulatory system more often
than not leads to high blood pressure.

In summary, the examples I gave you above are just a few of
the many health benefits of drinking water, for you and your
family as well.

However, I should stress the following: Not all water that
we get at our homes is created equal. Its quality varies
greatly, depending on a lot of factors such as where it
originates (could be ground water or surface water), the
kind of treatment it undergoes, etc. The subject of water
quality is a very diverse one and is surely beyond the scope
of this article. My personal opinion is that it is
definitely worth it to spend some time investigating the
issue and decide on taking action to ensure that the water
at your home is the purest it can be.

Nicos Stylianou is a firm believer that drinking
(http://www.your-nutrition-guide.com/pure-water.html)
healthy, pure water is one of the cornerstones of a balanced
diet. Visit his (http://www.your-nutrition-guide.com/)
nutrition guide website now to find out what he recommends.