Do You Know The Importance of Water?

Unbranded terms: (Water Hydration, Healthy water hydration, Dehydration, Importance of water 

Well-hydrated, Nutrient absorption, Gut Microbial community, Natural detoxification systems)

Since our bodies are mostly made of water, we are what we drink. But how much do we know about water's significance and its role in our well-being? This article offers you some important facts about the value of water, ways to properly consume it, and some of its incredible benefits to maintain overall health and vitality. 

Why water is essential for overall health  

Water is life’s essence. Our bodies are comprised of 75% water body weight in infants to 55% in the elderly. Because water is a critical nutrient, inadequate amounts can significantly impact our physical and mental function, while its absence can be fatal within days. 

Some research suggests the role of water not only in disease prevention, but also in the recovery and healing of the body. Since water delivers nutrients, oxygen, and supports other physiological mechanisms to the bloodstream, it plays a crucial role in our level of energy and vitality. As an endurance athlete, proper water hydration has played a crucial role in my long-distance training programs, not only during training but also during long, exhausting competitions and recovery. 

How does water deficiency affect the organism?

Water deficiency can affect people of all ages. However, research suggests that dehydration is an important clinical condition among adults (17% to 28% in the United States), manifesting with multiple symptoms ranging from moderate thirst and weakness to hypovolemic shock and neurological injury. This condition is particularly dangerous among older adults, seriously ill individuals, and those with chronic medical conditions.  

Dehydration and poor water quality can contribute to inflammation, intolerance, gut health imbalance, and skin problems. A 5-Strands personalized health insight can help uncover root causes of intolerance and imbalances in the body that might be partly related to water deficiency and other dietary and lifestyle imbalances. Since water is important for improving nutrient absorption, decreasing intolerance symptoms, and detoxifying the body, 5Strands intolerance testing can help improve your health test results.

What are the benefits of staying hydrated?

The human organism obtains water from three sources: The fluids we ingest (70 to 80%), the food we eat (20 to 30%), and metabolic or cellular processes (5 to 10%). Maintaining healthy water hydration is essential for proper physical and neurological functioning, and healthy people who keep water balance enjoy the benefits. The following list explains how proper water hydration impacts the human organism. 

1. Helps Fight Disease

   Healthy water hydration is a great defense against viruses and bacteria. Not only do our bodies need plenty of water to function properly, but also to fight the germs and organisms that threaten our balance. When our bodies are hydrated, they create these walls as membranes to keep intruding germs from entering our systems. Healthy amounts of water in our bodies will better protect our eyes, mouths, skin, and internal systems from disease. Chronic underhydration has also been linked to metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance in adults.
   
   
   
   
   

2. Promotes Gut Health and Harmonious Digestion

   Proper water intake has been linked to gastrointestinal function and health. Low water intake reduces the amount of water in fecal matter and is related to a higher prevalence of functional constipation, which has been associated with an altered systemic immune response. Studies have found that low water intake may lead to changes in the gut microbial community. These results tell us that water restriction modifies the gut microbial communities and density, changing the structure of the gut mucosa.
   
   
   
   
   

3. Detoxifies and Flushes Out Body Waste

   With healthy water hydration, we support the body’s natural detoxification systems. For instance, a healthy amount of body water contributes to flushing out waste and harmful materials through urination, breathing, perspiration, and bowel movement. This is why giving your body plenty of water supports the robust built-in detox mechanism that promotes overall well-being.
   
   
   
   
   

4. Promotes Weight Loss

   Healthy water hydration suppresses appetite and helps burn fat. With unhealthy snacking and the current global obesity rates on the rise, it is even more essential to stay properly hydrated to promote weight loss and weight management. The links between obesity and other diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, have been confirmed by many studies. A study linking the relationship between water intake and weight loss among overweight subjects found a decrease in body weight, body mass index, and body composition scores at the end of the study period, establishing the role of water-induced thermogenesis in weight reduction of overweight subjects.
   
   
   

5. Promotes Healthy Brain & Cognitive Function

   Since our brains are made of about 75% water, healthy brain and cognitive function highly depend on adequate hydration. There is a clinical link between severe dehydration and cognitive performance. Studies on water deprivation found that it can impair short-term memory,  attention, and solving time in psychological testing. In a study of mild water dehydration among athletes, it was found that it impaired cognitive-motor task performance. Because water helps remove metabolic waste from the brain, prolonged periods of water deprivation can also contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
   
   

   

6. Lubricates & Supports Joints

   Did you know your body’s cartilages, found in joints and spinal discs, contain around 80% water? Long-term water dehydration can also impact your joint health, reducing your joints' shock-absorbing abilities. Staying well-hydrated keeps your body’s joints well-lubricated, reducing bone friction and joint pain. Anytime I feel body stiffness and my joints begin to ache, I make sure to increase my water intake, especially during the summer season when I spend significant time training for endurance competitions and long races.
   
   

   

7. Supports Energy & Mood

   Healthy water hydration can help you get through your day with more energy and in a better mental state. Water dehydration can impact oxygen flow to your brain and make your heart work harder to send oxygen throughout your body, making you feel sluggish and more tired by the end of your day. Adequate water hydration has also been associated with increased metabolism and more energy. A study found that adding 500 milliliters of H2O increased metabolic rate by 30 percent for about an hour. A well-hydrated and energetic body can also impact your mood level, helping you feel calmer and focused.

   

8. Supports Mental Well-Being

   Are healthy hydration and mental health connected? According to research, there is a clear link between water hydration and multiple mental health conditions and functions such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, mental acuity (mental sharpness), attention, and memory. An Iranian study found that men and women who drank less than two glasses of water per day had a higher risk of depression than those who drank five glasses or more per day. Another study of children ages 9 to 11 in the US found that children who drank higher amounts of water had greater mental flexibility, or the ability to shift attention.
   
   

   

9. Promotes Skin Health

   With our skin being the body’s largest organ, keeping our bodies hydrated is very important. A well-hydrated body improves the skin’s barrier against skin infections or disorders. Water can also promote collagen, making your skin look healthier and younger. This benefit can be enhanced by taking other measures, such as wearing skin protection and having fresh food in your diet.
   

   

10. Supports Heart Health, Circulation, and Nutrition Absorption

    The importance of water to health also includes better blood circulation and proper nutrient absorption. Since water plays a major role in helping transport oxygen and nutrients through the bloodstream, it is crucial to drink plenty of water for adequate energy levels and healthy circulation. Because our blood is mostly water, dehydration can impact the quality of blood nutrients such as potassium and sodium, which can affect your heart’s health. Staying well-hydrated has also been linked to decreased risks of developing cardiovascular disease.
    

    

Other Benefits

There are several additional benefits we can enjoy from developing a healthy-hydration lifestyle. These include:

• Helps maintain healthy muscle tone. 

• It may help prevent and treat headaches

• Improves physical therapy results 

• Reduces the risk of kidney stones

• Improves sleep quality

• Keeps organs functioning properly 

• Regulates body temperature

Water Memory Studies & Well-being

Have you ever considered how water can be consciously enhanced for wellbeing? The importance of water goes beyond its biochemical properties and physiological benefits. Dr. Emoto, a Japanese water researcher, discovered that water is impacted by its environment, our thoughts, and emotions. But how is that even possible? For many years, he devoted significant scientific work to how the molecular structure in water changes when it is exposed to human words, thoughts, sounds, and intentions. Dr. Emoto proved how water exposed to loving and compassionate human intention results in physical molecular formations in the water that were aesthetically pleasing. On the other hand, water that was exposed to fearful, negative, and chaotic human intentions results in “unpleasant,” detached, deformed physical molecular formations. To prove this, Dr. Emoto used Magnetic Resonance Analysis technology and high-speed photographs. Other studies have been done on the effects of distant intention of water crystal formation. 

Dr. Emoto’s work has great implications on the importance of water, not merely as a physical substance we ingest, but also on how we have the conscious power to use water for healing and well-being.

How can you stay hydrated to maximize water’s benefits and impact on overall well-being? 

While the general recommendation is to drink about 64 ounces of water daily, the right amount will vary depending on various factors, including age, lifestyle, pregnancy or breastfeeding, other health conditions, and the weather. 

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends the following daily amount from both food and drink:

• 11.5 cups per day for women

• 15.5. cups per day for men

• 5-11 cups for children, depending on their age

About 20% of your daily water intake will typically come from fresh vegetables, fruits, and nonalcoholic drinks. 

You should also consider ways to increase water intake by:

• Adding a flavor enhancer such as lemon, cucumber, berries, or other healthy options. 

• Listen to your body when you feel dehydrated

• Carry a refillable water bottle

• Opt for water instead of energy drinks or soda drinks

• Drink water throughout the day

• Increase water-rich foods, like watermelons, cantaloupes, strawberries, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and celery. 

To wrap things up

We can’t dispute the value of water in our lives, especially for our sustenance, daily functioning, and physical and psychological well-being. Water is life, we are what we drink, and drinking water is not a luxury but an essential human necessity. Our bodies need fresh water daily, and you can enjoy great benefits by prioritizing water hydration. Remember, “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water,” Loren Eiseley