Drinking Water Facts

Guides

Why we need it, how much we need and all the other stuff
we should know about this life-saving substance 

Since there is so much talk about water, here are some severe drinking water facts we should know. Why we can’t live without it, how much water our bodies need, all the health benefits associated with it and a whole lot of other stuff too. Some of you may be shocked at what I’m about to tell you. But before I get to all that, what is it that we keep reading about having to drink eight glasses of water every day when our bodies already have so much water. If that is the case, why do we need to drink so much more of it?

If the human body is composed of mostly water, how much water is present in our bodies. If you do the math, there are often many conflicting theories. Some will say that our bodies contain 60 per cent water while others say that this figure can go up as high as 85 per cent. How will we ever know the truth? Does it mean that smaller people have less water per kilogram and that more significant people have more water in their system? Does drinking vast amounts of water daily tell us that no matter our size, we could surpass the 60 per cent barrier?

Let’s face it; we all know that we cannot survive for extended periods without fresh drinking water. At best, we could probably survive without water for up to a week. That is, of course, if not somehow stuck in the middle of the Sahara desert. Whichever way we look at it, not drinking enough water for any length of time is not suitable for our system either. Our internal organs would start shutting down, and that’s not a good thing. But here’s the thing – When water is freely available, it’s not that we overdose on water. Some people have known to become dehydrated from drinking too much water. 

Drinking Water Facts

Did you know that you can get all the water you need from nutrient-rich water foods instead? Did you also know that drinking too much water can deplete electrolytes and cause hydration as well as premature ageing of the skin? Consuming foods rich in water content is far better for you to get all the water you need. Because this way it helps balance hormones naturally, while also supporting the thyroid and your adrenal glands.

Did you know that drinking too much water can also be extremely detrimental to your overall bodily functions? During my research, I discovered that drinking too much water can play havoc with your kidneys too. I’ll get to that part in a moment. I always tell people to listen to their bodies. Your body has a remarkable way of telling you a lot more than you think.

While we may have an incredibly complex system, our bodies tell us when we are either thirsty or hungry and because of this, we need only eat when we are hungry and only to drink when we are thirsty. It’s a well-known fact that we overeat as noted in the number of people around the world who are overweight and in many cases, obese—little considered by the fact that we could be drinking too much water. 

Let’s take a look at why consistent reminders are in place that we should drink eight glasses of water daily. Is it not better for our bodies to tell us when we are thirsty and that we then need to drink some more water. Your body has the remarkable ability to say to you when you need to drink water, eat food or that you have a need to go to the loo. When is enough, enough? Wow! At this point, while writing this article, I became thirsty. Was it my body telling me to fill up again? 

Drinking Water Facts

Consider these drinking water facts? Why is it that so many people enjoy going to their local pub and then to sit there for who knows how long, not only so that they can play catch-up with their patronising social skills but more importantly to consume vast quantities of alcohol. Then sooner than later, they have to excuse themselves to go to the loo time and again to rid themselves of all those costly drinks—what a complete waste.

Now we have to ask ourselves, are these people who drink so much, actually thirsty? I would think not. Most of these people are drinking for an entirely different reason, which incidentally cannot be a good thing either. What are these people doing by drinking so much more than their bodies need? If your physique consists of so much water, then surely there’d be no need to drown yourself. Alcohol is, by all account, stepping on a dangerous path.

Another thing I’ve noticed over time is that men, in particular, seem to develop their middle section to such an extent that many of them look as though they are steadily becoming pregnant. Of course, we know this to be extremely unlikely. So if this is not the case, why is it that men refer to their larger than life waistline to a beer belly when it has absolutely nothing at all to do with beer whatsoever.

However, if the beer were to be the culprit, plainly these men could put their beer belly on tap and continue drinking their beer later at home when they become “thirsty” again. What a load of hogwash! That beer belly is nothing more than an accumulation of amino acids (protein) derived from the over-consumption of trans fats, fast-foods and high cholesterol meals. All of which are highly toxic to the human body. And don’t let anyone tell you any differently. 

Drinking Water Facts

Having said this, let’s talk about some more drinking water facts. There are many benefits that water can provide for your overall health but there is no need to go overboard to keep your system running efficiently. Here are some of the things water does for your health.

Water helps regulate metabolism and control appetite.

Water improves cognitive functioning.

Water helps regulate body temperature.

Water lubricates joints.

Water helps prevent chronic fatigue and depression.

Water keeps our lungs moistened so we can breathe.

Water helps prevent asthma.

Water increases energy levels.

Water can decrease the risk of some cancers, including colon, prostate, bladder and breast cancer, but only if you eat the right kinds of food.

Water prevents and alleviates headaches.

Water keeps the skin moisturised.

Water flushes out toxins.

Water aids in the digestive process and prevents constipation.

Water is necessary for circulation. 

Drinking Water Facts

Now you probably want to know just how much water is enough. At this point, it’s a good idea to bear in mind the type of food you are eating because that will also tell you a little bit more about whether or not you should drink more water. If you are a high meat and potato eater, you’ll probably need to drink more water.

However, if your food source comes primarily from plant-based food, you would need less water because you will, in effect, be eating the liquid as opposed to drinking it. Think about that for just a moment?

Getting back to my story about drinking too much water, I want to tell you exactly how water affects the function of your kidneys. It is essential to understand that water needs to filter through your kidneys to maintain optimum health. That said, if you drink too much water (especially on a bad diet) other than when your body’s natural mechanism tells you that more water is needed, you’d just be overtaxing your kidneys, and that’s not a good thing at all.

Your kidneys are a porous substance, and if you overload your kidneys with too much liquid, their function will be impaired. So let’s do a water test. Take a sponge, the one you may use to wash.

If you should continue pouring water onto your sponge, it will soon become waterlogged and therefore unable to do the job correctly. In other words, the sponge won’t be able to accept more water. The same said for your kidneys. So why would you want to place such a heavy load on your kidneys?

It all comes down to the food you shovel into your system. You don’t necessarily need to eat less. You just need to eat right. And if you are eating more protein-rich plant-based foods, there would not be any need to drink all that extra water. Think about this for a minute. You’d be getting much of your water directly from the plants you eat.

The same cannot be for a high protein meat diet, especially with all that extra fat you’ll be consuming. You may have heard that oil and water don’t mix. There’s no water in meat products whatsoever, so stop all this madness and eat better quality foods like whole grains (which absorb water), nuts, fruits and vegetables. Your body will thank you for it. 

Drinking Water Facts

There are a ton of guidelines out there regarding water and how much of it we should be drinking. But what if we are not getting all the right drinking water facts. The best way to gauge just how much water we need is to listen to what our bodies are telling us. You’ll be amazed just how much our bodies know what is required to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you can respect your body as you should and take that little bit extra special care to tune into its needs, you will naturally consume the correct amount of water. More than that is an unnecessary overload. Your body is talking to you all the time, so you need to take the time to listen. A good indication of whether you are drinking enough water is to check the colour of your urine.

If your urine is a pale yellow colour, then this is first-class. If your urine passes the same colour as the water, you’re drinking, that too is perfectly fine. However, if your urine is a dark yellow colour, you may want to regulate that with some more water.

Incidentally, if you are a stout beer drinker, you’ll probably notice your urine is clear in colour. Drinking loads of beer tends to make your urine colourless, but you’d be wrong to assume that this is okay. Beer drinking is never a good indication that your water levels are perfect. Besides, with all that beer, you’d merely be drowning yourself and your weak kidneys too. 

Drinking Water Facts

Your body will tell you when you’re running on empty. That goes for water just as much as for food. Drink when you thirsty and eat when you are hungry, much the same way your body will tell you it’s time to go to the toilet when in need. Research shows that if you go to the loo more than three times a day to urinate, you may be drinking too much water.

It’s best to go first thing when you wake up in the morning, then again in the afternoon and just before you go to bed at night. If you should be working the night shift, the procedure will work best in reverse.

More than that means you are drinking too much. And if you believe you need to drink more water, it’s more likely because you’re eating all the wrong foods which will require you to flush out all those harmful toxins and free radicals. Eat right, and you won’t need to drink all that water. I’m regular as clockwork after changing my eating habits to vegetarianism and macrobiotics 45 years ago.​ ​

One crucial thing to note and that is if you should ever wake up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, this could be a warning sign that you have other health issues such as prostate problems in men or that you may have diabetes. These are serious concerns. However, under normal circumstances, if you participate in various sporting activities, your body will need extra water as you will perspire a lot more. And that’s a good thing. 

Drinking Water Facts

I’ll talk about Macrobiotics in another article, however, here is a small brief. Macrobiotics is all about the yin and yang and how you can bring harmony within yourself. If you look at the word “Macrobiotics” and split it into two, you’d have “Macro” meaning Big or Large and “Biotics” meaning Life. Together you’ll have a Large Life.

On the other hand, if you take the word “Antibiotics” and split that into two, you’d be left with “Anti” meaning “Against” and Biotics, again, meaning Life. Together they spell Anti-Life. What does that tell you? But you don’t have to take my word for that one, get a second or third opinion. Or better still, Google the words separately and see what turns up. You could also look for the words in the English dictionary. Both come up with the same answer. You’ll be both shocked and amazed.

My name is Grahame Pike. I’m 67 years of age. I’m a vegetarian. (46 years and counting) I’m 1.78 metres tall, and my weight is always around the 63-kilogram mark. (no extra body fat) People tell me that I look 10 to 15 years younger than my actual age. (you be the judge). I’ve never been to see the doctor, except when asked to go for insurance purposes. I prefer to take responsibility for my own body, and I try to tell anyone who cares to listen, to do likewise. I don’t put that much trust in doctors and take no prescription drugs or any of those illegal substances. 

Love Travel Eat Right – Disclaimer

Please take note that the information on this site is designed for educational purposes and is intended solely for a general readership. The contents herein are not intended to offer any personal medical advice or to diagnose any health issues you may have. This information is also by no means a substitute for medical care by a licensed healthcare provider. For that, you’d need to consult your medical doctor or a health care practitioner for any advice should you require prescription medication.  

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