why we drink water?

Answer 1

WHY DRINK WATER?
Dr. Brett is a Naturopathic Physician with practices in Stratford and Stamford, CT

First appearing in 1994, this article is being reprinted now because I am already seeing the effects of heated air causing dehydration in my incoming patients.


A number of patients coming into the office have been suffering from a variety of symptoms, all of which can be traced to a lack of water intake. Most were drinking plenty of fluids: coffee, soda, tea and juice. But none were drinking enough water.


What kinds of symptoms result from drinking too little water? Most commonly I see constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nose bleeds, repeated urinary tract infections, dry and unproductive coughs, constant sneezing, sinus pressure and headaches.


You might ask how a lack of water intake can cause this wide array of symptoms. Water is required by every cell in the body as nourishment and to remove wastes. When water becomes scarce, the body tries to limit the amount it loses through breathing, mucous production, urination, perspiration and bowel movements.


Several cups of water are lost daily through breathing because the lungs require humid air to do their work. In the winter when drier air prevails outside and heating systems (especially forced hot air and wood stoves) dry out the air inside, even more water is lost. It is estimated that on an average day in the fall, 3-4 cups of water are lost through breathing. On a cold, dry winter day as much as 2-3 more cups of water may be lost in this way. The body has to moisturize the air before it reaches the lungs and does so through the mucous membranes lining the nasal passages and the bronchi. As available fluid decreases, the mucous lining becomes drier. This in turn irritates the lungs, causing them to become more reactive to dust, mold particles, cigarette smoke and other irritants, and less resistant to viruses and bacteria. The result: dry cough and bronchitis.


The mucous membranes of our lungs and gut are an important component of our resistance to disease. They provide an effective barrier to bacteria, viruses and pollutants when intact. But a number of substances (such as aspirin) are known to harm this barrier. What is less well known is that a lack of water in the body makes the all important mucous less viscous and can cause constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and a slowed movement of the bowels contents. These problems in turn increase ones risk of other long term disease including hemorrhoids and colon cancer. The mucous lining in the sinus passages is similarly vital as a defense against disease. When it becomes drier, sinusitis, nose bleeds and allergic symptoms worsen.


Obviously, we all lose some water through urination and urination is required for the removal of various toxins from the body. When fluid volume is diminished, the ability of the body to remove toxins through urination is also diminished. It is a comon misunderstanding that the more water we drink, the harder it is on the kidneys. In fact, except for people with some uncommon kidney problems, the opposite is true. Water soluble toxins cannot be easily removed through the bowels, especially when a lack of water also causes constipation. These toxins then must be eliminated in other ways such as through the skin. The increase in body toxin levels can cause headaches and fatigue. The attempt by the body to remove excess levels of unwanted chemicals through the skin can cause acne and will aggravate eczema.


The easy solution to all these problems is to drink more water. Coffee, tea and soda all contain caffeine which is a known diuretic and will actually accentuate the symptoms of fluid loss. Fruit juices are more concentrated in sugar than your body's fluids and so the body will attempt to dilute them in the gut thereby causing a loss of water from other areas of the body. In the dry, hot air of winter and very hot days of summer, drink at least 10 glasses of water daily for optimal health. During the spring and fall, 8 glasses will suffice for most people, although those with inhalant allergies do best to drink as much water as possible. Pregnant women need to drink at least 50% more water daily than they would while not pregnant. People who exercise vigorously should add one glass of water for each 30 minutes of exercise. Herbal teas and diluted fruit juices (1/3 fruit juice to 2/3 water) can be substituted for some of the water. Drink one extra glass of water for each cup of coffee or black tea you have. Humidifying the air in the winter will help reduce water loss, but be careful to clean humidifiers daily to discourage bacteria or mold build up.


What type of water is best? Activated carbon or charcoal filtered water is probably the least expensive way to drink 'safe' water. The carbon filter removes most of the carcinogens and bacteria commonly found in drinking water. These filters are often very inexpensive and can be found in almost any department store. Distilled water has had all the metals (both harmful and helpful) removed. None of the flourinated and chlorinated hydrocarbons (coming from combining fertilizers and pesticides with flouride and chlorine) are removed. It is these hydrocarbons which are linked with the most health problems. Bottled spring waters may be healthy, but they are not yet required to be analyzed for chemical and bacterial levels.


Water can be a miracle cure for many common ailments. Try drinking some now and see if you don't feel better!

Answer 2

Water has a couple of benefits tied to weight loss. First and foremost, we are mostly made up of water, so you need to replenish. Water is required for most of your basic cellular activities as well so they require the fuel. You lose it during the day not only sweating but also through respiration and other cellular activities. Probably the most important is that it helps to remove waste built up during fat burning. So drink drink drink more water! Your body will thank you!

Answer 3

Our bodies are estimated to be about 60 to 70% water. Blood is mostly water, and our muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. We need to drink water because water is needed to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all our organs. Water also transports oxygen to our cells, removes waste, and protects our joints and organs.

Answer 4

From a biological standpoint, water has many distinct properties that are critical for the proliferation of life that set it apart from other substances.
All known forms of life [plants, animals, and us !] are totally dependent on water :
Water is vital - both as a solvent in which many of the body's solutes dissolve, and as an essential part of many metabolic activities and processes within the body. It carries out this role by allowing organic compounds to react in ways that ultimately allows replication :
...Significant quantities of water are used during the digestion of food. And water is the medium in which toxic wastes from our body are eliminated as urine.
So, we drink water, to assure there is an adequate supply in our body - to help it handle our metabolism.

Answer 5

b coz water is the solvent for all life processes
our body contains 65% water (infant 75%)
it is the constituent of all body fluids
it helps 2 maintain the normal body temperature by evaporation through skin n lungs
it dissolves the waste products of digestion
it carries substances 2 all parts of the body n acts as a vehicle

Answer 6

We have to drink water to prevent dehydration.

Answer 7

Water is a fuel for living creatures. It is water that sustains you and empowers your mind and refreshes your body.It realizes the importance of boon.so,all mankind should be thankful to God.

Answer 8

Because of body is like 75% water....

Answer 9

we drink water to compensate the fluid loss due to sweating & urination.

Answer 10

Drink Water Even If You Are Not Thirsty

Water is responsible for nearly every bodily process and is the primary transporter of nutrients. It helps maintain body temperature and is essential to carry waste material out of the body. Therefore replacing the water that is continually lost through sweating and elimination is very important. Unfortunately most people only consume enough water to quench a parched throat - not enough to cover all the water lost.

Again as we age, our sense of thirst become dull. Our modern lifestyle makes us overdose on salt as we eat fast foods, restaurant foods, junk food all of which is generally loaded with salt. Stimulants like tea, coffee, alcohol, aerated soft drinks, dehydrate us and further increase the body's demand for water.

In addition to this, as we grow older we have a lesser percentage of reserve body water. So we get progressively dehydrated. That is why you must drink water even when not thirsty.

Healing Power Of Water
Water is beneficial for virtually all disorders known to mankind. Mild cases of constipation can get corrected just by drinking one litre of lukewarm water on waking up and two litres divided through the rest of the day.

Bladder problems as well as headaches can be reduced by drinking water. Inadequate water intake causes building of toxins in the body which can cause headache. Water acts as a cleansing agent and flushes out the toxins reducing frequency of headaches.

Consuming 10-12 glasses (250 ml each) of water can improve conditions like muscle aches, body pain, heartburn, joint pains, kidney stones, constipation, acne, lack lustre, skin allergies, indigestion to a large extent.

However, make sure you drink quality water which has been boiled and filtered. Unfiltered tap water may contain harmful containments chemicals and heavy metals, some of these include iron, lead, copper, fluoride and other heavy metals. Other contaminants like pesticides, industrial chemicals, bacteria, viruses and parasites have been linked to cancer.

The quality of tap water can be improved by filtering and boiling it for five minutes. This will kill bacteria and other parasites. Filtration is a method by which contaminants in water are removed. Water that has been purified by steam distillation, or filtered by a reverse osmosis filter, is safe for drinking.

Water Facts
1. Drink at least 10-12 glasses (250 ml each) of water everyday. (Those with kidney problems need to check with their doctor regarding their water intake).
2. Don't drink only when thirsty. Keep a bottle of water within your reach and drink through the day.
3. Tea, coffee and sweetened drinks cannot be taken in lieu of water. On the contrary they increase your need for water as they have a diuretic effect.
4. Contrary to popular belief, increasing water intake does not add to water retention.
5. If you are physically active, you need to increase your water intake to keep your body's water level in balance.
6. Without adequate water, we would poison ourselves with our own wastes.
7. You can squeeze fresh lime juice in your drinking water to boost its cleansing action.

Answer 11

To dissolve toxins and other non good stuff for your body.And then flush it out of your body.But you need to drink regular.to replenish.
And not to get dehydrated.