Posts tagged: water

Eat Your Water

Eat Your Water
Eat Your Water. Graphic © herbshealthhappiness.com

Many people neglect the importance of staying hydrated, especially during the winter season. The bad news is that severe dehydration can lead to devastating consequences, including brain damage, heart disease, and sudden death. [2]

If you find it challenging to get a sufficient water intake, an interesting solution for you may reside within the type of food you eat. You see, some foods are predominantly made of water, which serves as a great way to supplement your body with the necessary fluids, especially if you don’t drink enough.

The list below depicts some foods with the highest portions of fluids:

Cucumber – 96%
Watermelon – 92%
Strawberry – 92%
Apples and pears – 92%
Spinach – 92%
Pineapple – 87%

In addition to providing you with large amounts of water, these fruits and vegetables are rich in electrolytes and other nutrients. [2]
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, here is a quick definition: An electrolyte is an umbrella term that describes all particles with a negative or positive electric charge. [3]

In the field of nutrition, electrolytes refer to essential minerals found in the blood, urine, and sweat. The primary electrolytes found in the body are:
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Chloride
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Phosphate
• Bicarbonate

See also: 10 Super Healthy Things To Add To Your Water: https://herbshealthhappiness.com/10-super-healthy-things-to-add-to-your-water/

References:

[1] Taylor, K., & Jones, E. B. (2020). Adult Dehydration. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/

[2] Schiefermeier-Mach, N., Egg, S., Erler, J., Hasenegger, V., Rust, P., König, J., & Purtscher, A. E. (2020). Electrolyte Intake and Major Food Sources of Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium among a Population in Western Austria. Nutrients, 12(7), 1956. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7400604/

[3] Shrimanker, I., & Bhattarai, S. (2020). Electrolytes. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541123/

8 Great Reasons To Drink Water

8 Great Reasons To Drink Water
8 Great Reasons To Drink Water. Graphic © herbshealthhappiness.com. Water photo – Pixabay (PD).

Water is life! This combination of hydrogen and oxygen literary sustains our body and even our planet. This planet might in fact be better named “Water” than Earth, seeing as around 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. The human body consists of around 60% water. With this in mind, most health experts recommend people to drink at least half a (U.S.) gallon of water every day (i.e. the 8 ounces x 8 times rule). Read on for 8 reasons to drink 8 ounces of water 8 times a day.

1. Weight Loss: No sugar, no carbs, no calories, no fats – water is the ideal compound for weight loss. It has also been shown to increase metabolism and increase satiety. [1][2]

2. Heart Health: The Heart Foundation insists that water is important in regulating blood pressure, heart rate, and blood circulation. [3] Therefore, staying hydrated lowers your risk of heart attacks.

3. Energy Boost: Dehydration can sap your energy and make you feel tired. Loosing 1-3% of your body fluids through dehydration has been linked to feelings of fatigue and impaired concentration. [4][5]

4. Natural Headache Relief: Headaches are often associated with dehydration. Several studies recommend the consumption of water to help with headaches. [6]

5. Healthy Skin: Water clears up your skin and gives you a healthy glow. Researchers claim that it affects skin biomechanics and hydration. [7]

6. Better Exercise: In a study published by the Sports Medicine Journal, researchers found that dehydration can severely diminish your athletic performance – i.e., endurance, power, and strength. [8]

7. Digestive Problems: Water can help calm stomach acid. It has also been linked to a lower risk of constipation. [9]

8. Cleansing: Water is used by the body to help flush waste and toxins. [10] It helps transport waste products, allowing body cells to function optimally.

Please note that this content should never be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.

References:

[1] Boschmann, M. et al. 2003. Water-induced thermogenesis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14671205.

[2] Davy BM et al. 2008. Water consumption reduces energy intake at a breakfast meal in obese older adults https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18589036.

[3] The Importance Of Water https://theheartfoundation.org/2019/03/08/the-importance-of-water/.

[4] Giano MS et al. 2011. Mild dehydration impairs cognitive performance and mood of men https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21736786.

[5] Armstrong, LE et al. 2012. Mild dehydration affects mood in healthy young women https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22190027.

[6] Blau JN et al. 2004. Water-deprivation headache: a new headache with two variants https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14979888.

[7] Palma, L. et al. 2015. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529263/.

[8] Judelson DA et al. 2007. Hydration and muscular performance: does fluid balance affect strength, power and high-intensity endurance? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17887814.

[9] Association between dietary fiber, water and magnesium intake and functional constipation among young Japanese women https://www.nature.com/articles/1602573.

[10] Popkin B. et al. 2010. Water, Hydration and Health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/.

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8 Great Reasons To Drink Water
Graphic ©herbs-info.com. Image source – Pixabay (PD).