Importance of Water (Part 2)

Have you ever heard the adage that you are what you eat? Well, it may be more appropriate to say that you are what you drink. And whether you realize it or not, water is the main ingredient of everything, including your body.

With all the organs, bones, and muscles in your body, you may be surprised to know that more than half of your body is composed of water. Water flows through you like a literal fountain of youth, spreading to every part of your body to keep it as healthy as possible. Not only does water help your body digest and absorb all of the food that you eat, but it also keeps your body healthy and young. With sufficient amounts of water, your blood circulates better, your body temperature remains stable, your cells receive all of the nutrients and oxygen they need to thrive, and your organs and joints are protected from unnecessary wear and tear.

If you are reluctant to believe that water plays such a pivotal role in your life, consider what happens when you don’t get enough water. You can become dehydrated, your skin can crack, your brain can become foggy, and your joints and organs can suffer.

Of course, as another adage goes, there can also be too much of a good thing. If you drink too much water, you can potentially reverse all of the good that drinking water does in the first place. An abundance of water can dilute your electrolytes, make your bladder swell, and alter your sodium equilibrium. Simply put, too much water can make you feel like you are drowning in a lake of your own fluids.

As terrifying as that may sound, severe electrolyte dilution is very rare and the chances of you drinking an unhealthy abundance of water are slim. You can avoid health risks from drinking too much or too little water by monitoring the amount of water you drink. Water is the basis of life and with the right amount of water, your body can thrive. Every day you lose almost two liters of water through basic actions like sweating, breathing, and bathroom functions. Your goal is to replenish what you lose, so you should try to drink about two liters of water a day. Since most people do not count by liters, try to aim for somewhere around eight cups of water every day.

Depending on your physical activity level, you may require more water on a daily basis. It is safe to assume that you will lose more water if you run a marathon than you will if you sit behind a desk all day, so use your best judgment. If you are extra active, drink a bit of extra water.

No matter what your physical activity level may be, remember that there is no substitution for water. Sports drinks and caffeinated beverages may taste great and give you a temporary boost, but they are not adequate replacement fluids. Caffeine serves as a diuretic which will kick your bladder into overdrive and almost instantly expel all of the liquid you drank. Sports drinks are full of electrolytes, but they are also loaded with sugar. Try to balance your overall beverage consumption with a good amount of water and you should be all set.

Now that you have this knowledge, it’s up to you to keep your body happy. So drink up, everybody! Your body and your health will surely thank you.

Slimming Down Could Save the World

A drive towards reducing obesity could have important consequences for the environment and the long-term future of the planet, according to new study published by the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the UK investigated the link between Body Mass Index levels by nation in order to estimate the impact of being overweight on the levels of greenhouse gases emitted by a given population.

Results revealed that, compared with countries showing normal BMI averages, a population with 40% obesity requires a huge 19% more food energy for its total energy expenditure. A country with a slim population and low overweight level such as Vietnam will produce nearly one fifth less greenhouse gas emissions than countries such as the US or the UK, according to the findings.

Consequently, the current research suggests a population of one billion with high obesity levels could produce as much as 1 extra gigatonne of carbon dioxide emissions every year, approximately one sixth of the level produced yearly by humanity according to the European Environment Agency.

Consequently, the current research suggests a population of one billion with high obesity levels could produce as much as 1 extra gigatonne of carbon dioxide emissions every year, approximately one sixth of the level produced yearly by humanity according to the European Environment Agency.

Being overweight should be recommended as an "environmental problem", said the researchers.

However, the co-authors warned that all countries would need to consider the issue due to the fact that obesity levels are currently rising in every country in the world, with the average adult nearly 3kg heavier than s/he was fifteen years ago.

"Staying slim is good for health and for the environment. We need to be doing a lot more to reverse the global trend towards fatness, and recognise it as a key factor in the battle to reduce emissions and slow climate change", Dr Edwards concluded.

http://www.naturalnews.com

THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER AND HUMAN HEALTH

Water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body, and without it, humans would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. (Are you having trouble reading this? Drink up!) Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. Pretty scary statistic for a developed country, where water is readily available through the tap or bottle.

Water is important to the mechanics of the human body. The body cannot work without it, just as a car cannot run without gas and oil. In fact, all the cell and organ functions made up in our entire anatomy and physiology depend on water for their functioning.

~ Water serves as a lubricant
~ Water forms the base for saliva
~ Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.
~Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.
~ Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste- the best detox agent.
~ Regulates metabolism

In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50% and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer. And those are just a few examples! As you follow other links on our website, you can read more in depth about how water can aid in the prevention and cure of many types of diseases, ailments and disorders that affect the many systems of our bodies.

Since water is such an important component to our physiology, it would make sense that the quality of the water should be just as important as the quantity. Drinking water should always be clean and free of contaminants to ensure proper health and wellness.