Page 11 - SKC 115 February Flipbook

SOLERA SUN / FEBRUARY 2017
Drink Water
and Stay Healthy
THE AGE SPOT BY: JUDITH A. ALLENDER, EdD, MEd., MSN, RN
Do you drink enough water each day? Probably not. Most people go around slightly dehydrated. When the weather is warm you reach for additional liquids but, you need to stay hydrated all year long.
It is generally recommended that you have eight glasses of water a day. The good news is that you can substitute four of those glasses of water for tea, coffee, juices, or soda. The remaining four should be water. It’s an important ingredient in a healthy diet. With an adequate amount of water each day you will help many body systems become healthier. Here are some of the things water can do for you.
• First and foremost, it will ener- gize you and help you stay alert. You lose about ten cups of fluid a day through sweating, exhaling, urinating and bowel movements. Even borderline dehydration can cause impairments in concentra- tion, headaches, irritability and fatigue.
• It will reduce your risk of disease and infection. Adequate water helps you prevent kidney stones, and reduce your risk of bladder, kidney and urinary tract infections. One study found that women who drank more than ve
glasses of water a day had an almost 50% lower risk of colon cancer than among those people who drank two or less glasses
a day.
• It helps to control your weight. Drinking adequate water helps you distinguish between hunger and thirst. It will also keep your body systems function properly, includ- ing digestion and metabolism.
• It flushes toxins. Adequate water intake helps to flush toxins from your body and lessens the burden on your kidneys and liver.
• Water helps you stay regular and helps to prevent constipation. The added fluid throughout
your body also makes bowel movements easier.
• Water regulates your body tem- perature. Perspiration helps control your temperature. Adequate fluid allows you to sweat which is
a natural cleansing mechanism.
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• Have healthy skin. Water mois- turizes your skin from the inside out. The water improves elasticity and suppleness and helps prevent dryness.
• Reduce your risk of a heart attack. Researchers have found that people who drink more than ve glasses of water a day were less likely to die of heart disease or a heart attack than people who drank fewer than two glasses a day.
• Helps you get well. Drinking plenty of fluids when you are sick is good for you. It helps control a fever, replaces lost fluids and thins mucus.
• Keep joints and muscles healthy. Water is a large part of the fluid that lubricates and cushions your joints and muscles. Drinking water before and after exercise helps re- duce muscle cramping and fatigue.
Water can do a lot for you. Remember, it’s an inexpensive addition to your daily regimen and can do more for you than any one other item. Drink the water your body needs to stay well.