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Articles
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Fueling
Up On Water
It's our body's vital fuel, a health drink from mother nature.
It's calorie-free, inexpensive and easily obtained.
Yet few people follow the old fashioned advice to drink eight glasses
of water a day.
Most people drink when they are thirsty, but the beverage of choice
tends to be some other drink besides water. Americans drink two or three glasses of plain water a day,
according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey conducted in the late
1970. Based on an analysis of
all fluid intake by adults, it is said to total about two quarts of water a
day, and this includes water from foods and from other beverages. It's not usually necessary to actually swallow two quarts of
plain water every day. However,
people with special problems such as kidney conditions might be exceptions.
Americans drink eight gallons of bottled water a year, roughly two
ounces or a quarter-cup a day, according to the International Bottled Water
Association. Californians drink
three times the national average of bottled water, downing 24 gallons a
year, or nearly a cup a day. Climate
and seasons of the year play a role in one's thirst also, and just as we
tend to perspire more in the summer months, we also tend to drink more
water. Boosting intake of plain water
makes good sense, many experts concur, because water eases digestion and
regulates body temperature.
Water also
bathes the cells and accounts for about 60 percent of body weight. And it can help us exercise longer and more efficiently.
Drinking water can ward off constipation and maybe even crankiness.
An since it's a natural appetite suppressant, water can help us lose
weight and keep it off. It can
help keep skin healthy, although it won't necessarily banish acne.
Who should drink water? We
all should, but pregnant women, nursing mothers and athletes should be
especially careful to drink a sufficient amount. When it is hot or humid, upping water intake is also wise.
There are certain workers who seem to have a more difficult time
developing the water-drinking habit. Among
those who don't normally drink enough water are teachers, airline attendants
and nurses.
Drinking fluids, particularly, water, during exercise reduces
cardiovascular stress and improves performance.
After a strenuous workout, you have to replace the fluids you have
lost. Otherwise, you will
suffer chronic dehydration. Drink
water before, during and after exercising, and remember that water reduces
body temperature thus making the whole exercise process safer.
Water can be especially helpful for people with a history of kidney
stones because it dissolves calcium in the urine, reducing the risk of stone
formation. Among physicians,
urologists are probably most likely to extol the virtues of water,
And it has been documented that drinking water mostly before 6 P.M.
can reduce the likelihood of nocturnal bathroom visits.
It is interesting to note also that water helps prevent urinary tract
infections, both for men and for women. Too busy to count how many glasses a day you drink?
There are other ways to calculate if your intake is sufficient.
Dark-colored urine often suggest you aren't drinking enough water. Get into the habit by starting with a glass of water with
every meal, then work in a cup between meals.
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