Water: hydration for health and weight loss
By Gay Poe (nutritionist and advisor for UBC)
What are the benefits of drinking more water? As a whole, we are made up of 70% water. Muscles that are hydrated look more toned because they are made of 70% water. Not drinking enough water is similar to depriving that less-than vibrant plant you water every few weeks. The plant will survive, but at what expense.
Other benefits to drinking water include:
• Helps digest food
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces constipation
• Lessens Asthma
• Eases Depression
• Metabolizes fat
• Supports healthy hair and nails
• Carries more blood and oxygen to your face
• Eases irritability
• Regulates body temperature so you don’t get too cold or too hot
• Suppresses appetite
• Prevents water retention
• Reduces stress
There are so many aches and pains that most people attribute to being old, sick or tired, when in all actually, it’s probably just a case of dehydration. What about those painful joints that we complain about? Water works as a lubricant. The two opposing surfaces (for example, the femur and the tibia at the knee) will glide freely and minimize friction damage, causing less pain.