NUTRITION
Most prominent among water’s benefits are the ways it regulates body temperature, lubricates your joints, and removes waste through urination, perspiration and bowel movements. Water helps your body absorb certain vitamins and minerals, improves blood flow, and even boosts your cognitive function.
INSIGHT • AWARENESS • PREVENTION
Most people need to DRINK SIX TO
EIGHT GLASSES of water everyday,
Is Your H2O Hydrating
or Overhyped? With so many types of water available for consumption, it’s tough to determine what’s actually benefitting you and what’s simply a marketing ploy. words | DYLAN ROCHE
Water, water everywhere, but which type should you drink? And how much? And when? If you find yourself looking at shelves of bottled water in the grocery store and trying to determine the best type, you’re not alone. The task of finding the right bottle of H2O is steeped in a little bit of misconception (and sometimes even marketing gimmicks). That’s not to say water isn’t important for your overall wellness — any doctor or healthcare expert will tell you that it absolutely is. But most of the time, just drinking the plain ol’ stuff straight from the tap is just as good for you, or even better for you, than the expensive bottle with the trendy health claim you get from the store.
Health Benefits of Hydration There’s no one single benefit to drinking plenty of water — it’s vital for overall health. Everything in your body depends on water if it’s going to function the way it should: Every cell, tissue, organ and system in the human body requires water.
but this rule isn’t hard and fast for everyone.
Benefits of Water 1 Lubricates Your Joints
2 Removes Waste
3 Helps Body Absorb Vitamins and Minerals
4 Improves Blood Flow
5 Boosts Cognitive Function
(8 ounces per glass)
Somepeopleneedmore whileotherpeopleneed less. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, you get some fluids through the foods that you eat, such as fruits and vegetables with high water content (think celery, tomatoes, melons, apples, and berries). If you eat a lot of water-densefoods, you might not need to drink a full eight glasses of water.
On the other hand, some people have an increased need for water because they’re at a higher risk of dehydration. Athletes undergoing intense training, for example, need to drink more water to replace what they lose through sweat — this is especially true if they’re exercising outside in hot weather. The same goes for people who work physically demanding outdoor jobs, such as landscaping or construction. Certain health conditions will also increase your hydration needs. If you’re running a fever or if you’re losing a lot of fluids through diarrhea and vomiting, you need more water than normal. Additionally, people who have certain medical conditions, such as kidney stones or bladder infections, might hear from their doctor to drink extra fluids. www.OurHealthLynchburg.com
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