Water and Health Benefits

Water is extremely important to maintaining a healthy body. Water has been shown to be the source of all life on the planet Earth. It is one of the key building blocks of organic life and is necessary for every plant and animal in existence.

Water is very important for the proper function of the human digestive track. From saliva to help break down foods in the mouth, water helps keep food flowing all the way through the throat into the stomach and greatly helps the digestion of vital nutrients throughout the intestines. In the worst pandemic in history in 1919 millions of people died not directly because of the flu virus but because of the effects of diarrhea and dehydration had on the body. This was the single largest disease outbreak experienced in the modern world and the majority of deaths were caused by a severe lack of water.

It is therefore important to ensure adequate intake of water each day. Many doctors have recommended a minimum of eight glasses of water per day however to say this as a general rule would be a dangerous exaggeration. Over hydration is an equally dangerous condition and can lead to death just as quickly as dehydration can. It is a well-known fact among marathon runners that over hydration of the body will cause an instantaneous death. Therefore blindly following the blanket recommendation of ill informed doctors is just as detrimental as not paying attention to the needs of your body.

The actual golden rule when it comes to daily water consumption is to drink when you are thirsty. A lot of the body's daily water needs are actually extracted in the food that we eat. For many people this may result in a negative balance since the food that they eat may be high in sodium however that is a different issue; if a person eats a well-balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables those fruits and vegetables will contain a high degree of indigestible water which will be applied by the body to its daily requirement needs. Furthermore a person needs more water during the summer then they need during the winter this is determined by the need of the body to maintain energy levels, the daily activity levels of the person, and the general environment in which they live.

Finally the most important aspect to maintaining good health by observing proper water drinking procedures is to avoid all sugary sodas, fruit drinks, and caffeinated drinks. Just because a drink is liquid does not mean that it will help satisfy the bodies need for nutrients contained in natural water. Avoidance of these unhealthy products and refocusing one's habits on simply substituting these products with normal water can be a first and very strong step toward maintaining a healthy body mind and spirit.