Al-Huda
Foundation, NJ U. S. A
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Newsletter for December 2016
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The Health Benefits of Water
We all need water to survive, but how
exactly does it help?
Did you know that your body weight is approximately 60 percent
water? Your body uses water in
all its cells, organs, and
tissues to help regulate its
temperature and maintain other
bodily functions. Because your
body loses water through
breathing, sweating, and digestion,
it's important to rehydrate by
drinking fluids and eating foods
that contain water.
The amount of water you need
depends on a variety of factors,
including the climate you live
in, how physically active you
are, and whether you're
experiencing an illness or have
any other health problems.
Water Protects Your Tissues,
Spinal Cord, and Joints
Water does more than just quench your thirst and regulate your
body's temperature; it also
keeps the tissues in your body
moist. You know how it feels
when your eyes, nose, or mouth
gets dry? Keeping your body
hydrated helps it retain optimum
levels of moisture in these
sensitive areas, as well as in
the blood, bones, and the brain.
In addition, water helps protect
the spinal cord, and it acts as
a lubricant and cushion for your
joints.
Water Helps Your Body
Remove Waste
Adequate water intake enables
your body to excrete waste
through perspiration, urination,
and defecation. The kidneys and
liver use it to help flush out
waste, as do your intestines.
Water can also keep you from
getting constipated by softening
your stools and helping move the
food you've eaten through your
intestinal tract. However, it
should be noted that there is no
evidence to prove that
increasing your fluid intake
will cure constipation.
Water Aids in Digestion
Digestion starts with saliva,
the basis of which is water.
Digestion relies on enzymes that
are found in saliva to help
break down food and liquid and
to dissolve minerals and other
nutrients. Proper digestion
makes minerals and nutrients
more accessible to the body.
Water is also necessary to help
you digest soluble fiber. With
the help of water, this fiber
dissolves easily and benefits
your bowel health by making
well-formed, soft stools that
are easy to pass.
Water Prevents You From Becoming
Dehydrated
Your body loses fluids when you
engage in vigorous exercise,
sweat in high heat, or come down
with a fever or contract an
illness that causes vomiting or
diarrhea. If you're losing
fluids for any of these reasons,
it's important to increase your
fluid intake so that you can
restore your body's natural
hydration levels. Your doctor
may also recommend that you
drink more fluids to help treat
other health conditions, like
bladder infections and urinary
tract stones. If you're pregnant
or nursing, you may want to
consult with your physician
about your fluid intake because
your body will be using more
fluids than usual, especially if
you're breastfeeding.
How Much Water Do You Need?
There's no hard and fast rule,
and many individuals meet their
daily hydration needs by simply
drinking water when they're
thirsty, according to a report
on nutrient recommendations from
the Institute of Medicine of the
National Academies. In fact,
most people who are in good
physical health get enough
fluids by drinking water and
other beverages when they're
thirsty, and also by drinking a
beverage with each of their
meals, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention. If you're not sure
about your hydration level, look
at your urine. If it's clear,
you're in good shape. If it's
dark, you're probably
dehydrated. |
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