Water makes up about 75% of our bodies, but how well do we understand it? We've been taught a few things in various health classes. The rule of thumb used to be that you should drink eight 8 oz. glasses a day, but is that still the case:
How much to drink? Yes, we should have 64 ounces of water a day, but it doesn't all have to be water. Vegetables, fruits and other foods will provide some of the necessary fluids. There are a couple of things to keep in mind. Coffee, tea, sodas and alcohol will not help make up the necessary ounces, as they can cause dehydration.
Water and alcohol: I have been asked if drinking water can cause someone who has been drinking to get drunk again. This is not the case, unless you go overboard, which can be fatal. There is, however, a benefit from drinking water after drinking alcohol. It can mitigate the hangover headache to a certain degree.
To Much Water: Yes, you can drink to much water. It's called water intoxication. The sodium content of the body is diluted and causes an imbalance of water in the brain. This can and has killed. Most of the time, this happens during extensive physical activity, but there's been at least one case from a water drinking contest.
Water Weight: To much sodium and some serious illnesses can lead to water retention, which can be very trying. Also, many women notice water retention around "that time of the month." If watching the sodium doesn't work, you may need a physical to make sure you don't have a life altering medical condition.
Dehydration: A lot of people think of dehydration happening in the desert or after extreme exertion. Unfortunately, most of us are in a constant state of dehydration. By the time you feel thirst, you're already dehydrated. Make it a habit to drink water over the course of the day, in order to prevent it. My method is to keep a bottle of water by my computer so I'm constantly reminded to drink it.
Water and Weight Loss: There are two ways water can affect your weight loss goals. The first way is when you go on a crash diet. Yes, you'll lose a few pounds in the first week or two, but it's not from fat, it's from water. After that, your body will hold onto every calorie it can.
The second way is at the end of a properly executed diet. If you have a few pounds that just won't go away, try drinking more water. This occurs because your liver is taking over some of the duties your kidneys would be doing if you were completely hydrated. The liver converts body fat to energy, but if it's working hard on filtering, it's harder to do its other functions.
So, here's to you, raise a glass or bottle of water to your good health.
For more information about home remedies, you can visit my site: http://healing-home-remedies.com/. There are blogs and articles about many herbs and the conditions they may help. Subjects include stress, back pain, the flu, gout and cholesterol. You can also download my free report, the Top Ten Herbs. The report discusses the uses, side effects, precautions and interactions of popular herbs. My eBooks, also found on the site, contain information about foods and herbs that can help you deal with the problems life throws our way. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at: mary@healing-home-remedies.com. Mary Bodel
No comments:
Post a Comment