There are many health benefits of drinking water for the body - it helps with weight loss, it helps you to keep your body hydrated and helps the organs in your body to function properly. The body is made up of approximately 70% water and the body is continually losing water, sometimes more than at other times through breathe, urine, sweat and even bowel movements. As the temperature of the body rises we tend to lose more water through sweating and so the body indicates through making you thirsty that it requires more water. Sometimes though a lack of water shows up as hunger and so you eat, whereas really you need the drink water. I know of someone who, if the children say they are hungry always suggests drinking water first before eating food to see if they are thirsty.
Good health benefits of drinking water
Water can help with weight loss because it can be used to make your stomach feel full so you are less likely to overeat. Water is also a key element in metabolism of your fat because it helps the liver to break down stored fat for energy for the body. If the body becomes dehydrated then the liver is unable to do its work so efficiently and less stored fat is converted to energy.
Water is required if you exercise or do any activity that makes you sweat before, during and after the duration of the activity. A lack of water, dehydration can cause muscle tiredness and cramping and loss of energy.
You are best to drink just natural water but if you have cravings for fizzy drinks than you can try sparkling water, although you need to check that it does not contain any sugar. The only thing is that sparkling water is not as hydrating as natural water.
Bad health benefits of drinking water
The bad health benefits of drinking water is if you drink too much too quick. Drinking too much water can over hydrate the body and so dilute the sodium salt content of your blood. If your salt content of the blood decreases (known as hyponatraemia) that it can affect your brain, heart and muscle function. In the worse case the brain can swell causing headaches, sickness, confusion and breathing difficulties. It has been known that drinking too much water to cause death although it is rare.
There is also concern now that if you are in labour that you should not drink too much water can cause hyponatraemia. Women in labour are now in the UK asked to just sip water so that they can keep their mouth moist.
Although we are told to drink plenty of water, of which other drinks such as tea can be included in the amount of water you drink in a day, you do need to be careful not to over do it. Each person is different and so you are best to listen to your body, to drink when you are thirsty. The health benefits of drinking water are there but you just need to think before you take on drinking large amounts of water.
A short video to help you by hypnosis to drink more water instead of snacking but remember not too much water!!
Remember the motto moderation in everything!!!
