Benefits of Drinking Plenty of Water

Drink one half glass of water every hour (waking hours) and two glasses after each principal meal. If you forget to drink after one hour, take one glass of water the succeeding hour. This excludes your intake of other liquid.

Eight glasses of water per day is definitely not enough. If you have edema, consult your physician or heart doctor for there might be a need for limiting your fluid intake.

Health Benefits of Drinking Plenty of Water:

Man consists of 50% - 70% water. Drinking regularly ensures adequate maintenance of water content of the body. Water is important for the proper transport of nutrients to all cells and tissues of the body. If we take a bath daily to clean our body externally, the more we need to clean our body internally. The cheapest and only way to do this is to drink plenty of water. There is no single cell of the body that will not be washed and cleansed by water.

An increase water intake increases urine formation and excretion thus facilitating the elimination of toxic and noxious substances. This protects the urinary tract from infection and stone formation. Bacteria could hardly succeed in colonizing the urinary tract for frequent urination washes away the bacteria, as well as the sediments(preventing the formation of stones).

The elimination of toxic and noxious substances prevent frequent headaches which are often times due to such substances. The toxic substances that have been introduced into the body or formed as by products of metabolism (some of which are the free radicals). The accumulations of toxic substances will undermine the body and will affect all system. Such toxic and noxious substances have direct injurious effects on the endothelial cells and intima of arteries(especially arteries of the heart, brain and lower extremities) inducing early development of atherosclerosis (hardening and thickening of arteries) with subsequent formation of thrombi. Uric acid, which when in excess is the cause of rheumatism (gout) and uric stones in the urinary tract, is better excreted (by drinking enough water). Increased uric acid level in the blood promotes platelet stickiness and clumping, leading to thrombosis. Increased water intake also prevents gallbladder stone formation.

Increased water intake increases internal fluids, which in turn prevents an increase in blood viscosity which helps prevent thrombosis(obstruction of arteries) and heart attack and stroke .

Enough water intake increases sweat secretion. When a person sweats, skin pores open up to let water escape through the skin. This also throws out epithelial debris and pathogenic bacteria thus preventing the clogging of pores and preventing infection. Proper sweating also prevents dryness of the skin and facilitates the excretion of toxic substances such as urea, ammonia, uric acid, plus the fringe benefit of a healthy looking and youthful complexion.

Incase of fever, increased water intake is important in order to prevent dehydration. It helps promote better perspiration which gives a cooling effect on the body and bring down the high temperature.

Regular intake of ½ glass every hour is more beneficial than drinking two glasses after four hours for it alleviate hunger pain, prevents hyperacidity and is of great help in the healing of gastritis and ulcer because water dilutes and washes excess acids as well.

Adequate water intake also promotes regular movement because it prevents the formation of dry hard stool. Patients who take water regularly respond better to their hypotensive drugs compared to those who do not take enough water. There is a greater loss of sodium in the urine. Better perspiration also adds to further loss of sodium.