FUELING UP ON WATER
It's our body's vital fuel, a health drink from mother nature.
It's calorie-free, inexpensive and easily obtained. Yet few
people follow the old fashioned advice to drink eight glasses
of water a day. Most people drink when they are thirsty, but
the beverage of choice tends to be some other drink besides
water. Americans drink two or three glasses of plain water a
day, according to a US Department of Agriculture survey conducted
in the late 1970. Based on an analysis of all fluid intake by
adults, it is said to total about two quarts of water a day,
and this includes water from foods and from other beverages.
It's not usually necessary to actually swallow two quarts of
plain water every day. However, people with special problems
such as kidney conditions might be exceptions. Americans drink
eight gallons of bottled water a year, roughly two ounces or
a quarter-cup a day, according to the International Bottled
Water Association. Californians drink three times the national
average of bottled water, downing 24 gallons a year, or nearly
a cup a day. Climate and seasons of the year play a role in
one's thirst also, and just as we tend to perspire more in the
summer months, we also tend to drink more water. Boosting intake
of plain water makes good sense, many experts concur, because
water eases digestion and regulates body temperature. Water
also bathes the cells and accounts for about 60 percent of body
weight. And it can help us exercise longer and more efficiently.
Drinking water can ward off constipation and maybe even crankiness.
An since it's a natural appetite suppressant, water can help
us lose weight and keep it off. It can help keep skin healthy,
although it won't necessarily banish acne. Who should drink
water? We all should, but pregnant women, nursing mothers and
athletes should be especially careful to drink a sufficient
amount. When it is hot or humid, upping water intake is also
wise. There are certain workers who seem to have a more difficult
time developing the water-drinking habit. Among those who don't
normally drink enough water are teachers, airline attendants
and nurses. Drinking fluids, particularly, water, during exercise
reduces cardiovascular stress and improves performance. After
a strenuous workout, you have to replace the fluids you have
lost. Otherwise, you will suffer chronic dehydration. Drink
water before, during and after exercising, and remember that
water reduces body temperature thus making the whole exercise
process safer. Water can be especially helpful for people with
a history of kidney stones because it dissolves calcium in the
urine, reducing the risk of stone formation. Among physicians,
urologists are probably most likely to extol the virtues of
water, And it has been documented that drinking water mostly
before 6 P.M. can reduce the likelihood of nocturnal bathroom
visits. It is interesting to note also that water helps prevent
urinary tract infections, both for men and for women. Too busy
to count how many glasses a day you drink? There are other ways
to calculate if your intake is sufficient. Dark-colored urine
often suggest you aren't drinking enough water. Get into the
habit by starting with a glass of water with every meal, then
work in a cup between meals.
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