It has become imperative to look after our health and well-being in order to cope with life’s demands and pressures in keeping up with today’s fast-paced lifestyle. An lifestyle that includes an abundance of safe clean drinking water links to the maintenance of good health and well-being. Here’s more about the importance of water to both your health and fitness regime.
While water is essential for life, it can also be life-threatening. Clean, safe water helps us to live healthier lives; contaminated, dirty water is life-threatening.
You find yourself in a very fortunate situation if you have safe, clean, drinking water to lead healthy lives. Millions around the world are not so fortunate, with little access to clean water; millions of people are at risk of water-borne diseases.
For many people, they have water is due to charity. That’s why so many charities focus on saving lives through water charity appeals.
Water is very important for life given our body composition is 60% water. Our body needs water to carry out vital processes and is hugely beneficial when it comes to exercise too.
Importance of water for body health
Water is very important in carrying out life-sustaining processes efficiently and effectively. Your body cells, tissues and organs are made up of water and require a sufficient amount of water to carry out its functions effectively.
Water is needed to regulate our body temperature through the processes of respiration and sweating. It flushes toxins from our body through the process of urination and bowel movement, and it helps our heart and brain to carry out tasks important for our living.
Without water or with an insufficient amount of water, these processes would not be able to happen efficiently, thus causing a great deal of discomfort and can lead to serious illnesses. Drinking water and eating food with a high water content are easy ways of replenishing water loss in your body.
Water and exercise
The World Health Organisation recommends that, on average, people drink at least 2 litres of fluid per day, depending on the amount of activity in your day.
Human muscle tissue consists of 75% water and 10% fatty tissue, and during exercise the temperature of your body increases. Thus, your body uses more water to regulate its body temperature.
If the lost water is not replenished, then the water content of the muscles decreases. A slight decrease in the water content of muscles can a huge impact on its performance.
Specifically, dehydration limits the body from performing at its best. It can lead to:
- Muscle cramps
- Feelings of dizziness
- Fatigue
Therefore, it’s usually best to drink water before, during, and after physical activity.
Water and weather
Weather plays a key role in the water loss of your body.
The body regulates its body temperature through the processes of sweating and breathing. As the external temperatures rise our body cools down by sweating more and as the outside temperature falls, the body tries to heat up through the process of shivering and constricting the blood capillaries.
Unfortunately, dehydration leads to the body over-heating during the summer periods, which can result in heatstroke. In the winter, feeling parched can cause certain body parts, such as the hands and feet, to feel excessively cold.
It is, therefore, extremely important to stay hydrated in all weather conditions, especially the children and the elderly.
Final words on the importance of water
In summary, your body uses water for all its life processes, from breathing, talking, thinking, walking, and gardening to sleeping. This clear liquid regulates every activity your body carries out.
We must keep ourselves hydrated. Otherwise, dehydration can lead to the inability of the body to function at its optimum.
Drinking plenty of water, eating food with high water content ,and wearing weather-sensitive clothing can keep you fit and healthy. And that’s the basis for the most productive life possible.
Adding some lemon and cucumber in the water is great too
Great tips~!
😊❤
Big hugs!
Hugs dear Christy
Keep safe
This is so very true, Christy.
Cheers to good health, Peggy!
Well written! And water maintains the elasticity of our skin too!
Thanks for adding that!
While it is true that water intake and hydration are important factors for health, I’m afraid that the “2 litres of water per day” statement that is regularly trotted out is an outdated concept dating back to 1945 and, taken at face value, is misleading, is not correct, and in fact excess water consumption can actually be harmful to the body.
Current studies show that adults DO need 6-8 glasses of LIQUID, however this is not just water but takes into account all liquids consumed such as milk, tea, coffee, fruit juice, soft drinks, beer/wine, and even water that is present in prepared foods as well as salads/fruits.
Common sense and awareness of other health factors dictate that both caffeine and especially alcohol intake is moderate, milk is not consumed as full-fat, and soft drinks are sugar-free; alternatives to tea/coffee such as peppermint and green teas have been shown to have good digestive benefits. Salads/fruits are an important part of the diet too.
Hi Andrea, thank you for pointing out the error in that sentence! I’ve now amended it to “2 litres of fluid per day” to reflect the inclusion of other liquids in a day that count toward the water total. I love green tea so glad you mentioned it too.
Great information Christy.
I agree with you that water is a big part of exercise and staying healthy. Flushing you system and keeping you hydrated is key to a healthy weight along with exercise.
You’re right about that, Brigitte!
Great reminder! Thanks so much for sharing this article.
And thank you for the support here, Megala! Apologies for the delay in replies.