| Water is the liquid of Life." There is not an inch of | | | | this acid and prevents acidity and ulcer in the stomach. |
| exaggeration in this statement. We all know the value | | | | 3. Prevents constipation: Drinking adequate water |
| of water for our existence. Now we shall see how | | | | prevents hard stools and proper evacuation of the |
| vital it is to us, in keeping us healthy and ailment | | | | bowels. |
| free. Just off hand, I could remember 14 benefits. | | | | 4. Prevents kidney stones: Kidney stones are formed |
| This subject is vast and we shall briefly state the | | | | due to regular deposits of uric acid and calcium |
| various benefits in a way for the non experts to | | | | oxalate crystals in the kidneys. New deposits keep on |
| understand its importance.. Nothing would | | | | getting deposited on the previous deposits growing |
| please me more than to converting you into " | | | | in size over a time and forming stones. Regular drinking |
| waterholics". | | | | of water keeps flushing the crystals through the urine |
| Requirement of drinking water: | | | | and prevents stone formation. |
| The normal requirement of water everyday, in ounces | | | | 5. Prevents gall bladder and hepatic stones: |
| is weight in lbs divided by 2. So if you weigh about 180 | | | | Due to proper evacuation of stools, the secretion of |
| to 200 lbs, you require about 100 ounces of water | | | | bile is promoted and the gall bladder and the liver get |
| everyday, which is roughly = 3 litres, which | | | | flushed and their stone formation is prevented. |
| again is roughly = 13 cups. | | | | 6. Prevents headache: As a result of proper flushing of |
| Though 3 litres is the requirement as per the say of | | | | the kidneys and the gall bladder, the toxins from the |
| some medical books, there are some who | | | | blood are eliminated. There are some toxins which |
| advocate 4 to 5 litres. And, in my opinion, a little extra | | | | cause headache and their removal prevents |
| water will not harm but only benefit. I personally | | | | headache. |
| consume 4 to 5 liters of water everyday. | | | | 7. Prevents Rheumatism and Gout: Increase in uric acid |
| However, this quantity increases in certain | | | | levels in the blood give rise to the two problems |
| circumstances. For example, in hot weather you | | | | : Gout and kidney stones. Drinking adequate water as |
| perspire more and thus tend to lose more body fluids | | | | mentioned above, flushes the kidneys and prevents |
| through sweating, or a laborer working in the sun | | | | excessive accumulation of uric acid in the blood and |
| similarly sweats more and loses more body fluids. | | | | the onset of these problems is prevented. |
| Such extra loss of body fluids has to be replenished | | | | 8. Prevents Atherosclerosis: Excess of uric acid is |
| with extra intake of water. | | | | responsible for clumping together of platelets in the |
| In certain diseases affecting the heart, the kidneys, | | | | blood, which get deposited on the inner walls of the |
| the thyroid, the liver and the adrenal glands, there | | | | arteries. They form plaques on the walls and reduce |
| are limitations to intake of water and your physician | | | | the lumen of the arteries. This deposition on the inner |
| should be consulted in such cases. | | | | walls of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. |
| How to drink: | | | | Drinking plenty of water flushes out the excess uric |
| This amount of water is to be drunk, spaced over the | | | | acid as mentioned above and prevents |
| time that we are awake and not in just 2 or 3 sittings. | | | | atherosclerosis. |
| Space it say between | | | | 9. Prevents Heart attack: Atherosclerosis is |
| - From the time you get up to breakfast. | | | | the main reason for a heart attack as the reduction in |
| - Breakfast to lunch | | | | the lumen of the artery leads to a reduced blood |
| - Lunch to snacks | | | | supply to the heart. As explained above, drinking plenty |
| - Snacks to dinner | | | | of water greatly reduces the chances of a |
| - And dinner to bedtime.. | | | | heart attack by preventing atherosclerosis. |
| Today, we see people carrying mineral water bottles | | | | 10. In hypertension, patients with adequate intake of |
| and the embarrassment of carrying water bottles | | | | water, respond better to anti hypertensive medicines |
| does not exist any more. So carrying a bottle of | | | | due to loss of sodium through urination and |
| pure and clean water from home in your briefcase or | | | | sweat. |
| your purse should not pose a problem. | | | | Sodium is taboo in high blood pressure and that is |
| Benefits of drinking adequate amount of water: | | | | why salt, which contains rich amount of sodium, is |
| 1. Keeps weight in check: Do not wait | | | | contra indicated in hypertensive patients. |
| to feel thirsty to drink water as thirst indicates | | | | 11. Body temperature stays cool due to more |
| dehydration. Many a times, thirst is mistaken for | | | | sweating. |
| hunger and the person tends to eat more | | | | 12. Skin stays healthier and attains a healthy glow. |
| leading to weight gain. Drinking water at regular | | | | 13. Metabolic Rate gets a boost and the person feels |
| intervals as stated above, will prevent thirst | | | | more energetic. |
| and overeating and thus weight is maintained. | | | | 14. Alternative Medicine advices drinking plenty of |
| 2. Prevents acidity: Gastric acid in the | | | | water in the treatment of certain types of cancer. |
| stomach, which helps in digestion of food, causes | | | | So now, it is time to scratch our heads to think and |
| acidity due to reasons such as regular and long hours | | | | find out what else is there in the world that is available |
| of fasting or stress or eating spicy and oily | | | | so freely, and yet bestows so many health benefits! |
| food. Water drunk as mentioned above keeps diluting | | | | |