Water has been called the ‘elixir of life’. We can survive a month without food, but we may not last a week without water. Water constitutes 75 percent of our body and adequate hydration is essential for its function. Water makes the metabolism burn calories 3% faster and makes one feel more energetic. Learn more from Western Weight loss Institute here.
Adequate hydration has other intangible benefits.
- Regulates appetite
- Improves skin torpor
- Decreases risk of some cancers
- Reduces the risk of kidney stones
- Maintains normal bowel function
- Cleanses the body of waste products
- Helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol
Affects of Dehydration-
With the innumerable processes that need water, it is hardly surprising that the body does not tolerate dehydration very well. Slight deficits in hydration may have serious effects on our body. Studies show that a 2% drop in the water surrounding the cells of the body may lead to a 20% decrease in energy levels. An insufficient amount of water in the body may cause a reduction in blood volume, which means that less oxygen reaches your muscles.
With increasing levels of dehydration, the blood becomes concentrated with salts and waste products. These solutes withdraw water from the salivary glands, creating thirst. Thirst is not an index of dehydration or lack of water. It is believed that, by the time you are thirsty, you might already be dehydrated. Normal thirst develops after dehydration and is quenched before normal hydration is achieved.
Do We Need a Drink Without Thirst?
Therefore, if you drink water only if you are thirsty, you might not be getting enough. The recommended quantum of water consumption for most of us is around eight to ten glasses per day. Thirst is however, useful, as an indicator to a structured form of drinking. For example, thirst occurs naturally, during, before or after exercise and prompts one to drink water.
Another indicator of the level of hydration is the color of urine. Darker urine indicates that a person needs more water. If the color of urine is clear, it indicates that the person is adequately hydrated. If you an athlete you might want more to use more accurate measures of hydration. The nude body weight before and after exercise is one such indicator. Replace every pound of weight you loose during an activity with 2 cups of water. Drinking sufficient amounts of water before and during exercise will also help boost your performance!
Sometimes Hunger and Thirst Get All Mixed Up-
Researchers have made some interesting observations regarding hydration, thirst and hunger. Their studies show that thirst and hunger are often triggered together. Thus, thirst is often confused with hunger. Most food stuffs contain water. We might actually be eating them for the water they contain, instead of the energy they supply. So how do we tell the difference? Easy! Try drinking a glass of water if you think you are hungry. If you feel satisfied, it was only thirst! Western Weight Loss Institute is here to help.
For these reasons, Psychologists believe that drinking water with meals decreases food intake, while providing adequate hydration at the same time. Drinking water before snacks or about half an hour before meals is another way to check your intake. Water may even prevent sagging of the skin that sometimes follows weight loss.
Learning these subtle nuances between thirst and hunger will help you keep your body well hydrated. Why load up those extra calories, if all you need is water?
Western Weight Loss Institute support e-mail.
http://www.breakthedietcycle.com/
Posts
