Water has been an essential element of living for all human beings since the beginning of life on Earth. For both humans and animals, water is a critical component to staying alive. It is a natural chemical composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
According to the USGS (United States Geological Survey), the surface of Earth consists of three-quarters of water with the following percentage: 96% of it are oceans and seas, while only 4% of the water on our planet is “sweet water” (like rivers, lakes, glaciers, etc.)
History and importance of water
From the historical point of view, the importance of water depends on the country and the religion. Of course human beings use it to remain alive, to drink, and for their hygiene ritual: to take a bath, to wash their face, teeth, the whole body, and also to clean the material things like clothes or cars, etc., but there are places where the importance of water was way beyond what people think today.
As we already said, in the old times water was considered a curative procedure in many parts of our present world.
The ancients regarded water as a sacred element
- It was thought that the birth occurs by the move through the water.
- The Roman Empire built many places in Rome composed by establishing public bathrooms and patios with pool, some of them still exist in our days, where with the help of water they thought were going to fight the evils.
- The Greeks used the water to get rid of supposed diseases and to restore the normal behavior of the human body.
It is not a surprise for anyone that water is the principal and indispensable component of the human body since the body is 75% water at birth, as babies, and more than 50% when babies become grown ups.
More than 70% of the brain, which is the most important organ of all living things, is water.
Also, 92% of the blood is made out of the water so its importance must be recognized and how vital is it to people’s health to drink the right amount of water.
At the same manner, as it occurs with the oxygen, water is indispensable to plants, animals, human beings, and all forms of life that exist.
Because the bodies of all beings alive are composed primarily of water as it helps to build muscles, organs, and tissues, it is not too much to call it the most important element of life.
Of course, certain organisms need to consume more water than others, but all of them need water to survive as it is known that without water, life on Earth would have never begun.
That is why it is important to discuss the benefits of consuming water on the health of humans.
Health Benefits of Drinking Water
- Helps to protect the heart by preventing heart attacks
- Contributes to the maintenance of weight because drinking water increases the metabolic rate, helping the body to burn fat.
- Helps women and men to get rid of some extra pounds since it reduces hunger;
It is an actual appetite suppressant with zero calories.
- Boost the immune system
Drinking the right amount of water helps fight against flu and other ailments such as kidney stones or heart attacks. In other words, by drinking water, it is less likely to get sick.
- It’s the enemy of cancer
Drinking the recommended amount of water can reduce the risk of cancer because it causes the liver, and other organisms to do their duties nicely.
It is easy to decrease the risk of bladder and colon cancer with the help of this marvel liquid
- It is an ally of the digestive system
Aids in digestion and prevents constipation by increasing the metabolic activity.
- Slows the aging process
Water can be the best friend of women’s skin. Therefore, it’s easy to say that drinking water it is essential for a balanced diet. It makes the skin healthier and increases its elasticity making women look younger.
- Natural remedy for a headache
Nowadays, many people, young or old, suffer from headaches.
Pains that become obstacles in the way preventing them from performing their job well or having a good time.
How does water help? Water helps relieve headaches caused by dehydration. Although there are many other reasons that contribute to a headache, dehydration is very common.
- Improves productivity at work
As it was already said, the brain is 70% water, so drinking the right amount of water daily helps to think better, to focus more and to be more productive.
- Relieves fatigue because helps the body to eliminate toxins.
- Allows absorption of essential nutrients
- Facilitates blood flow
- Prevents the mucous membranes from drying out
- It facilitates movement
- Protects and lubricates joints
- Regulates body temperature.
These are just some of the benefits of water, as the list is endless:
What people are frequently asking about water?
Does water have any calories?
As mentioned above, water has 0 calories, and it does not contain fats, carbohydrates or proteins.
It’s important to remember that although it doesn’t contain calories, water is used in the transportation of calories to the cells for energy consumption.
Does water affect weight?
The answer is simple. It helps both to maintain or to lose weight because it’s a hunger suppressant with no calories.
Regarding the question “Does water ever go bad ?” it is better to do not drink the water that stayed in a glass for too long (for example the glass people have next to their bedside table it is not recommendable to drink it in the morning). The reason is that after several hours of sitting out, its taste changes becoming nasty.
To avoid an unpleasant taste of water, it is better always to use the fresh one.
If you ever wondered how much water should you drink daily here is the answer.
How much water a person has to drink varies depending on the body, but it’s an accepted fact that an adult needs around 2 liters of water daily to stay well balanced.
Is it good to drink water while eating?
Well, drinking water during the meal can slow down digestion. The best way to drink water is before eating because besides protecting the stomach walls, satiates and prevents us from eating too much. The best thing to do is to take into account our weight
Although few people know, body weight has plenty to do with the amount of water daily to be taken because a thin person does not need so much water as a higher body weight; in this way making the mistake of consuming more water than the body needs to perform its functions.
To achieve the exact amount of water needs to be taken the value of the body weight in pounds and to divide that weight for two. The result of this formula is equal to how many ounces of water that body needs on a day.
(Body weight in pounds) / (2) = Amount of water in ounces daily.
Drinking water at the right time
Always existed and will always be a perfect time for everything. There are several situations in our day-to-day operations when the timing is everything.
For sport or strenuous exercise, it is recommended to consume an extra liter of water for every hour of exercise.
Having a glass of water before each meal is good because it is a habit easy to remember and will contribute to the better metabolism of meals.
Drink water when we woke up to be better hydrated and to start the day with more energy
If a person drinks a glass of water before taking a bath, it helps lower the blood pressure.
One of the best times to drink water is before sleeping because it reduces the risk of a heart attack. Around 90% of heart attacks happen in the morning, and it could be avoided with one or two glasses of water taken before bedtime.
There are plenty of reasons why water should be a person’s best friend since we are mostly water. It is everywhere: in our body, refreshing us from the outside, in our entertainment, and in our cleaning activities.
Drinking water stimulates kidney function, and it also helps to balance water levels in the body, regardless of the time when we drink it.
Helping water to help is not a difficult task. All we have to do is to make this task a daily one.