Thursday, October 2, 2008

Benefits of Drinking Water: 3 Essentials

By Cindy Soto

Perhaps it goes to show the times we live in that we are wondering about the benefits of drinking water. Isn't it just obvious we need water? All the same, let's take a closer look.

You've heard that your body itself is 75% water, your brain 90%. That little tidbit should remind us that we need water: a glass of water is vital to have by your hand all day.

You will only enjoy the benefits if you drink water, not coke or milk or lemonade - water. When you feel thirsty, what do you reach for? Make it water and you'll have a great and lasting positive impact on your health.

And I'm sure you've heard that if you wait until you're thirsty, it's a bit late, your body is already feeling the effects of dehydration; not a good thing. Think to drink.

In short; if this one vital element is not taken the right way, you will fall far short of your health objective. Water is essential to so many things: moving oxygen through the body, in helping the body recover from injuries, in detoxification and overall cleaning. It greatly enhances the bodily processes, including digestion and sexual performance.

Let's go over the 3 essentials so you can enjoy the benefits of drinking water:

1. -- Quantity: at least 8 to 10 glasses, or more exactly take half your weight and drink that many fluid ounces. But this is only a rough guide. Listen to your body, drink more if you're active.

2. -- The frequency is also essential. You want to replenish water as the body uses it. If you are active, it's always good to drink before and during the activity. Have a glass of water within reach throughout the day.

3. -- The quality is the third essential element. Tap water is not healthy. For years chlorine has been a major element in the water, and even the EPA acknowledges that chlorine in tap water will increase the likelihood of cancer by 93% in one's lifetime.

Many turn to bottled water, but it's not great either. The plasticides from the bottle itself leach into the water over the weeks the bottle sits on the shelf. And in one test, over a third of bottled water was below the low standards of tap water.

You can learn much more on this important subject. The benefits of drinking water are many and it's especially vital to ensure you are drinking healthy water. - 15343

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