Nairobi,
Tuesday, 25 June, 2024
By McCreadie Andias
You’ve probably heard or read somewhere that you need to drink eight glasses of water each day.This claim has become widely accepted as fact, and it’s very easy to remember. But is there truth to this advice, or is it just a myth?
Let’s get into the why we actually need to consume about half a gallon of water a day. It’s quite difficult for many to hit this target but here’s are incredibly significant health benefits from it;
Hydration
You need to drink enough water to stay optimally hydrated. Generally speaking, that means replacing the water you lose through breath, sweat, urine, and feces take an example, during a summer hike, a person drinks water regularly to prevent overheating. Proper hydration allows their body to sweat efficiently, maintaining a stable internal temperature.
Digestive Health
Water Aids in Digestion as explained by medics, water helps break down the food you eat, allowing its nutrients to be absorbed by your body. After you drink, both your small and large intestines absorb water, which moves into your bloodstream and is also used to break down nutrients. Someone with occasional constipation starts drinking eight glasses of water daily. This habit helps soften their stools and promotes regular bowel movements.
Kidney Function
Water helps remove waste through urination, enabling balance of the bodily functions. Water is a component of blood plasma that conveys other elements of the blood and nutrition to all parts of the body. It also helps with the excretory system while making the skim firm as well.
Additionally, water helps to decrease risk of kidney stones. Although more research is needed, there is some evidence that increasing water consumption may help prevent recurrence of kidney stones in people with a tendency to form them. A person with a history of kidney stones increases their water intake to eight glasses a day. This helps dilute the substances in urine that lead to stones, reducing their risk of recurrence.
Joint Lubrication
Water helps to keep your joints lubricated and flexible; the Synovial fluid that directly lubricates your joints is made up primarily of water. This fluid reduces the friction between joints and helps to maintain healthy tissue and joints. An older adult with arthritis drinks more water to keep their joints lubricated. This leads to less joint pain and improved mobility.
Skin Health
Water keeps your body hydrated and refreshed and helps maintain your skin’s elasticity. People who drink large amounts of water are less likely to suffer from scars, wrinkles, and soft lines and they won’t show as many signs of aging as those who drink little amounts of water.
Someone struggling with dry skin begins to drink eight glasses of water daily. Over time, their skin becomes more hydrated, leading to a healthier, more radiant complexion.
Cognitive Function
Well, water helps your brain cells communicate with each other, which is important when you go about your day. Water also clears out toxins and waste that impair brain function. Not to mention, it also carries nutrients to your brain to keep your brain healthy. A student preparing for exams stays hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. This helps improve their concentration and short-term memory, aiding their study sessions.
Energy Levels
Water helps to flush out excess toxins, maintains regularity, transports nutrients and oxygen, and best of all, increases energy and helps fight fatigue. New research even suggests that middle-aged adults can lower their long-term risk for heart failure by simply drinking enough water on a daily basis. An athlete drinks plenty of water before and after training sessions. This ensures efficient nutrient and oxygen delivery to muscles, enhancing their performance and recovery.
Weight Management
Drinking enough water may help you burn more calories, reducing appetite if consumed before a meal and lowering the risk of long-term weight gain. Someone trying to lose weight drinks a glass of water before meals. This practice helps them feel fuller, reducing their calorie intake and aiding in weight management.
Toxin Elimination
You may have tried the latest juice cleanse to detox your body, but what about drinking a refreshing glass of water? Water helps to eliminate wastes and toxins from your body by encouraging healthy digestion and transporting nutrients to where they are needed. A person undergoing a detox program drinks eight glasses of water daily. This helps their liver and kidneys function more effectively, flushing out toxins from their body.
Reduced severity of headaches
For those prone to headaches, drinking additional water may reduce the intensity and duration of episodes. In dehydrated people, water may help relieve headache symptoms.
