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Why Water Consumption Is Crucial During Exercise

2006-08-12T01:27-04:00

by Gregg Hall

When I think of the fact that the human body is over 75% water it makes me wonder how we aren't just big piles of some kind of gelatinous substance. Still, the fact remains that our bodies must have water to survive and going without water for as little as three days can result in death. The problem in our modern society is that many people replace water intake with soft drinks and other less than healthy sugar filled beverages. Regardless of what some so-called experts say, these other liquids cannot take the place of water.

The exact amount of water than each individual needs will vary depending upon age, weight, temperature, and amount of exercise. According to studies, the vast majority of adults are not properly hydrated. It is crucial to the proper function of the body to have adequate water consumption. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink water then it's too late. Many people rely on this as a way to tell if they are in need of water but the fact is that by this point you have a deficit of sixteen ounces or more.

The biggest culprits in the substitution of certain beverages for water are those containing alcohol and caffeine. These beverages will actually cause more rapid fluid loss due to the diuretic effect and even though you may feel that you are getting water from these types of liquids you are really losing it nearly as quickly as you drink it.

Anyone who exercises will have a higher need for water due to the body perspiring to try to cool off. During exercise it is necessary to drink at least 24 ounces per hour of exercise. You should also drink water during the day and drink a total of about a gallon a day not counting what you drink during exercise. You should also have a glass before you go to sleep at night as your body still has a need for water while you are sleeping. This will allow you to wake up feeling better and with your body functioning as it should.

When you are sick you also have a higher requirement for liquids because your body is easily dehydrated. If you have a flu or a cold you should drink even more than normal to prevent dehydration.

In order to ensure adequate hydration make it a habit to drink water daily and drink throughout the day. Don't buy into the promotions that say that other beverages are equal, there is no substitute.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about water and home water filters at http://www.waterfiltersetc.com

Why It Is Even More Crucial For Seniors To Stay Hydrated During Workouts

2006-08-12T01:22-04:00

by Gregg Hall

It is crucial for anyone exercising to stay properly hydrated but it is even more important for seniors who are more prone to heat related illness. The heat built up by the muscles being exercised cause the body temperature to increase which results in the body perspiring to try to cool down. This is a normal function of the body but in extreme heat and humidity situations the body can even sweat more then is required and this can result in rapid fluid loss. In addition to the relatively benign side effect of poor workout performance, dehydration can also cause heat stroke which can lead to seizures, coma, and even death.

When the body first feels the effects of dehydration the ability of the blood to carry oxygen is lessened resulting in weakness and dizziness. If one attempts to continue exercising while in a dehydrated state it can cause unhealthy fluctuations in blood pressure, nausea, fainting, and other symptoms of heat exhaustion and in some cases can result in stroke.

Some of the early signs of dehydration are dry skin, fatigue, thirst, and infrequent urination. One of the reasons that the dehydration threat is higher for seniors is because of thinner skin that comes with aging. The thinner skin makes a person more prone to losing fluid. Another issue that makes seniors more open to fluid loss is their medications, some medicines can cause you to become easily dehydrated.

To avoid becoming dehydrated during a workout, drink at least eight ounces of water every fifteen minutes to make sure that you keep ahead of fluid loss. It is necessary to take in this amount of water during any exercise, not just when exercising in hot conditions; you can experience rapid fluid loss in cool environments as well during intense exercise.

The easiest and fastest way to tell if you are drinking enough water is by the color of the urine, if it is clear then you are getting enough fluids, if yellow you are not properly hydrated. Avoid caffeinated drinks before, during, and after workouts as these will only cause you to be more susceptible to dehydration. You should drink a bout a gallon of water per day whether you workout or not to keep your body hydrated properly, if you exercise you need an extra 24 ounces per hour. Also avoid high protein diets which cause more frequent urination leading to dehydration.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about water and Water Filter Systems at http://www.waterfiltersetc.com

Is Water The Real Fountain Of Youth

2006-06-26T00:41-04:00

by Gregg Hall

It is widely known now that water is a needed nutrient for our bodies, indeed over 70% of our bodies are made up of water. But many people do not realize that there are many common maladies such as headaches, high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, and fatigue that can be prevented or treated just by having proper hydration to maintain optimum fluid levels in the body. The best way to prevent‚ treat‚ and in many cases cure illness is to give our body the right tools and let it go to work. With the proper intake of healthy water‚ the right minerals and nutrients‚ our body can overcome almost anything.

Recent studies have confirmed that an increased intake of water and the proper immune enhancing nutrients‚ combined with a little patience and common sense are by far the best defense against most infections. Allowing our body to overcome minor infections with fever‚ fluids and rest increases our natural resistance and makes us less susceptible to these intruders in the future. Truly the best offense is a good "defense."

Pain medications and analgesic medicines also work in contrast to the way our body heals itself. In a very informative book called "Your Body‘s Many Cries For Water" (very highly recommended)‚ studies by medical experts explain how most of the pain sensations we experience are the result of moderate or acute dehydration.

One of the most common causes of headaches is lack of proper hydration. Because our brains are over 75% water, when a shortage of water is detected the brain releases histamines which cause pain and fatigue. Taking pain medications and antihistamines only masks the true problem. In most cases, simply drinking a couple of cups of water and relaxing for 20 minutes will stop the pain.

Sometimes even back pain can be caused by a lack of fluids. Our spinal discs which are filled with fluid act as shock absorbers in our spinal column and when they are not hydrated properly they deflate and provide less of a cushion and place the load on the shell of the disk instead of on the fluid like it should. Another thing that affects the fluid level in disks in the lack of movement, just by moving your head around and moving your upper body around while sitting at a desk can help alleviate this and allow the discs to remain hydrated.

Another area that is surprising to many is high blood pressure or hypertension which in many cases can be caused by a lower blood volume from dehydration. Our blood is well over 80% water and is therefore very susceptible to changes in hydration. When the body detects a loss of blood volume‚ it closes off less active capillary beds in order to maintain proper blood flow to the more active areas. These vessel closings cause a rise in tension inside the muscle mass which we‘ve come to know as "hypertension." More water allows proper blood volumes and less tension.

If you have any of these conditions try drinking more water, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get water filters to keep your water pure at http://www.waterfiltersetc.com

Why Pure Water Is So Important

2006-03-17T10:38-05:00

Our bodies need water to survive and we use water to process several functions in our bodies which are designed primarily to run on water and minerals. All the natural healing and cleansing systems in our body can only work properly with water. It has only been recently that the medical community has weighed in on how important water is to normal body function.

We are comprised of mostly water; over 70% of our bodies are water. To break it down even further our brains are over 75% water, blood 80%, and the human liver which is our main filter is 96% water.

Our nervous system which is responsible for sending the electrical signals to every cell in our body is really a system of miniscule waterways. A lack of water can lead to dehydration of the fluid inside our nerves or even lead to the nervous system being damaged from excessive chemicals and heavy metals due to their not being flushed out of the system. Many scientists and medical doctors now are in agreement that this condition can be the cause of some degenerative diseases and neurological disorders such as ADHD, Chronic Fatigue, and even Alzeimers which means they may be preventable just by drinking more pure water.

Knowing how important water is to the proper function of our body we should also realize that the purity of the water is essential as well. Our digestive system requires adequate water intake in order to properly digest our food as well as get the optimal nutrient absorption we need to be able to utilize the nutritional value of the foods we eat.

Water intake can also either positively or negatively affect our energy levels depending on whether or not we are properly hydrated, in fact it has been proven in clinical studies that even a 5% reduction in body fluids can cause as much as a 30% loss of energy and a 15% drop in body fluids leads to death.

If you are trying to lose weight the lack of proper hydration will actually derail your weight loss efforts. Our liver uses water to metabolize fat and turn it into useable energy so it is obvious that a lack of water will hamper its ability to do this. It isn’t going to hurt you. Increase your water intake to roughly 64 ounces a day and you will see the results for yourself plus you will have much higher energy levels.

Another huge issue for our bodies is detoxification. It may well be the most important factor in our long-term health. Water is the only way for our body to flush toxins from our system which is also a major key to preventing disease. We can’t avoid exposure to toxins in our world today but by taking in enough water we can help our bodies get rid of them.

The quality and purity of the water we drink is just as important as the amount. If water already contains chlorine and other chemicals‚ it has less of an ability to carry toxins out of our body. If we consume water that contains traces of synthetic chemicals‚ then we force our liver and kidneys to be the filter... ultimately damaging or destroying two of our most vital organs.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Find out more and get water filters from http://www.waterfiltersetc.com

waterfiltersetc.com Blog

Why Water Consumption Is Crucial During Exercise

About the Author

Why It Is Even More Crucial For Seniors To Stay Hydrated During Workouts

About the Author

Is Water The Real Fountain Of Youth

About the Author

Why Pure Water Is So Important