Did you know that water
makes up more than two thirds of human body weight, and that while you can
survive over three weeks without food, you can only survive a few days without water?
The human brain is made up of 95 per cent water, blood is 82pc water and the
lungs are 90pc water. When the water in your body is reduced by just 1pc, you
become thirsty. A mere 2pc drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of
dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty
focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. So if you’re having
trouble reading this, drink up!
Most adults lose about two
litres of water in a day through regular body functions like urination,
sweating and breathing, but those who live in or work in warmer environments
tend to lose more. Hence, it is important we replace our fluids regularly to
compensate for this loss. Experts say that, on average, eight eight-ounce
glasses per day will suffice. However, the amount needs to be tailored to meet
the needs of every individual.
To quench thirst, it’s
recommended that one should have water and not carbonated fizzy drinks as a
cold soda may feel nice going down, but that does not actually replenish the
body and fills you up with sugar. While some fruit juices and green tea may
account for fluid intake, don’t reach out for caffeinated drinks as they have a
mild diuretic effect, which ultimately defeats the purpose. It’s best to drink
twice as much as it takes to quench your thirst and drink throughout the day to
prevent dehydration.
Water
is calorie-free and hydrating and its benefits are priceless
Water is as important to
human body as oil and fuel is to a car. In fact, all the cell and organ
functions of our body depend on water for their functioning. It carries
nutrients to our cells, aids digestion by forming stomach secretions, flushes
our bodies of wastes and keeps our kidneys healthy. It keeps our moisture-rich
organs (our skin, eyes, mouth and nose) functioning well; it lubricates and
cushions our joints, and regulates our body temperature and metabolism.
Water also plays a crucial
role in disease prevention. Some doctors believe that proper hydration can help
prevent or delay the onset of chronic joint diseases, such as rheumatoid
arthritis, because water reduces inflammation and promotes cartilage health.
Adequate water consumption can also slow the signs of aging and improve
conditions such as constipation, diabetes, hypoglycaemia, obesity, arthritis,
kidney stones, dry skin, wrinkles, cataracts and glaucoma.
Water is also beneficial
for weight loss. If we don’t drink enough water the body retains whatever water
it has, causing swelling in our hands, feet, and legs. But when we drink enough
water, our body does not need to hold on to the scarce water.
Whether you’re trying to
lose weight or you simply want to look and feel healthier, one of the best ways
to rid your body of harmful toxins is to drink water. Just six to eight glasses
every day will help to keep you hydrated and keep your vital organs in their
best possible health.
If you don’t want to drink
plain water, add lemon, mint, cucumber, ginger, melon, raspberries that will
not only boost the taste, they will also help to flush harmful toxins out of
your body. Certain detox waters are available in the market but you can make
your own detox water at home as well.
Just add two litres of
spring water, two litres of a medium grapefruit (sliced), half a cucumber
(sliced), half each of a sliced lemon and lime and a couple of mint leaves.
Cool in the fridge for a couple of hours and drink at least two litres a day
for optimal results. Cucumbers are diuretics and can help you to avoid water
retention. Lemons and limes help to flush out toxins from your digestive tract
and grapefruits help you to burn fat.
Add two tablespoons of
apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of ground
cinnamon and about half a medium apple (sliced) to 1/3 litres of water. You can
also add a bit of sweetener if you want. Blend everything except the apples,
then just add apples and drink. This flushes out nasty toxins and really does
help you to drop a few pounds, too.
Just mix about eight cups
of water with a medium cucumber (wedged or sliced), a whole lemon (wedged or
sliced) and about 10 mint leaves (or however many you prefer). Mix in a large
pitcher and leave it in the fridge overnight.
Add juice of half a lemon
to about 1/3 litres of water at room temperature; grate half-inch blob of fresh
ginger root to this and drink first thing in the morning. As ginger is a
natural pain reliever not only will it help to relieve pain all day, it will
cleanse toxins from your body throughout the day and the lemon juice helps to
release those nasty toxins so they’ll flush out better.
Squeeze the juice of half a
lemon into a tall glass of water; drinking this every morning will flush out
toxins and keep them from building up.
Add half lemon sliced, half
lime sliced, half grapefruit sliced or orange, one cup of sliced cucumber with
peel, one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger and a handful of fresh peppermint
leaves to two litres of water; refrigerate for at least a couple of hours
before drinking and discard after 24 hours as the citrus fruits tend to get a
little mushy. This detox water has ingredients that will clean out your
kidneys, eliminate bloating and help you to enjoy much healthier skin. It also
aids in digestion.
Add two tablespoons of
raspberries (fresh or frozen), two tablespoons of fresh mint leaves, a
medium-sized sliced lime to about two litres of water. Muddle the raspberries
just a bit if you want more flavour. You have a very tasty detox water to help
flush those toxins from your kidneys, liver and colon.
Published in Dawn, Sunday
Magazine, March 22nd, 2015
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