Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Water, the Sweet Magic Liquid

   We've all heard that it is good for us to drink lots of water.  We have the best of intentions, but often fall back into our old habits of a sip or two here and there.  Why is water so good for us?  What does it really do?  Is all liquid created equal?
    First, water acts as a lubricant between the layers of tissue that you have.  When your water level is low, these layers will rub against each other, causing unnecessary strain.  Over time, your muscles stiffen which can interfere with how flexible you are.
    Second, water helps flush away the toxins that are in your body.  Waste products attach themselves to the hydrogen molecules and are removed by your urinary system.  As my swim coach used to say, "Drink, drink, and drink some more, until it comes out clear on the other end."  A good goal is to consume roughly six to eight glasses each day.
    Third, water can help you burn more calories, particularly cold water.  Your body burns calories by heating up cold water to body temperature.  Drink a tall cold glass first thing in the morning, as well as one a few hours after each meal.  You will not only eat less, but you will be burning roughly 80 extra calories each day with very little effort on your part.
    The purer the water you drink, the more toxins can be removed from your body.  Other liquids may help some, but only water can give you all of these benefits, without any extra calories.

I hear the ice cubes calling my name now.  Bottoms up!
Debra

1 comment:

  1. Here is a little more info I found interesting...

    Drinking water at the correct time maximizes its effectiveness on theHuman body:

    2 glasses of water after waking up helps activate internal organs

    1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion

    1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure

    1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

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