JerseyDevil

Quick question. I have read a bizillion times, here and elsewhere, to drink at least a gallon of water a day, or your BW in ounces. I don't doubt this is good advice, but what exactly is the reason for downing so much H2O?

-Paul

calalily1972

My own notes: I feel that drinking plenty of water, 4-6L a day helps flush out the toxins and waste from our kidneys left from day to day fat loss and unused protein. Also it carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells though the blood. It helps regulate our body temp through perspiration, which gets rid of excess heat to cool us down.

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Water: Drink To Your Health.
Author/s: Charlotte Lyons
Issue: July, 1999

WATER, the most essential liquid of all body fluids, is perhaps second only to oxygen in terms of importance. It comprises 75 percent of our muscles and 90 percent of our blood. It is so important that you couldn't survive more than a few days without it.

Despite the importance of water, most people don't get enough of it. In fact, Americans only get about one-third of the water they need, resulting in, among other things, fatigue, constipation, dull skin tone, poor digestion and a reduced ability to concentrate. When the body doesn't get enough water, muscle tissue begins to stick together and joint movement is restricted. Vital organs can lose their ability to function optimally. Dehydration can also seriously affect blood pressure, circulation and kidney function.

The popular recommendation for adults is to drink at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water daily. More water may be needed depending on climate, activity and body size. An overweight person needs more water than a thin one because larger people have larger metabolic loads. Children need to drink a lot of water when they are physically active and should take water breaks every 20 minutes.

Surprisingly, drinking an ample amount of water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is then stored outside the cells, resulting in swollen feet, legs and hands. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs--plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.

The best indicator that you need some water is thirst. But avoid trying to quench your thirst with caffeinated or alcoholic beverages because they rob your body of water by accelerating urination.

For those who are trying to lose weight, drinking enough water is essential. It suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When kidneys don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body, but if the liver has to do some of the kidneys' work, it can't operate at full capacity. As a result, it metabolizes less fat and more fat remains stored in the body, and weight loss stops. Water also helps the body get rid of waste during weight loss. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of, and water helps flush out the waste.

With more and more people paying closer attention to their water intake, they also are paying closer attention to what actually is in the water they are drinking. And many are following guidelines and taking steps to get the purest water possible. For example, to reduce the lead in tap water, run the water for several minutes before using it. Always use cold water for cooking because hot water can draw lead out of pipes and fixtures. Another option that eliminates not only bacteria, but also lead and chemicals, is using a home water-filtration system. Some people feel that bottled water, which has gained huge popularity in the last five years, is a safer and better-tasting alternative.

There are five main categories of bottled water. Spring water comes from protected (unpolluted) springs. Mountain spring water comes from springs in the mountains; it is considered a guarantee of purity. Mineral water is spring water that contains at least 500 parts per million of total dissolved solids. Drinking water comes from any source legally approved for drinking. It is usually tap water or local well water that has been filtered and processed for purity. Distilled water, which lacks minerals, is from any source, evaporated and then condensed so that it is chemically pure.

It doesn't matter which type of water you choose to drink. Just make sure you drink enough because water is essential for good health. So get into the habit of drinking at least eight glasses of water a day.

If your water consumption needs a boost, try some of the following tips:

* Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. Drink steadily throughout the day.

* If you drink coffee, for every cup of coffee you drink, drink a cup of water, which will replace the water you lose when drinking coffee. Make each cup of coffee with a cup of water.

* Enhance the taste of water by adding fresh lemon, lime or orange slices.

* Try drinking water from a fancy glass.

* When exercising, drink water before, during and after your workout.

* Keep a gallon of water in your refrigerator at all times.

COPYRIGHT 1999 Johnson Publishing Co.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group

JerseyDevil

That's what I was looking for!

JerseyPunk

wow our user names are similar

JerseyDevil

Yes they are. Ever notice that there are a lot of people here who are from Jersey?