Drink up

The wonders and benefits of water are endless and that is why we here at B.W.A.C. have decided to celebrate and highlight the importance of water for the entire month of March, in honor of World Water Day on March 22nd.  We know that one of the most important products that we could ever use for a healthy body and skin is Water.  So we wanted to share with our Belles the internal and external benefits of water.

The human body is made up of almost 70% water.  The reason for this is because water makes up the majority of the composition of our cells.  Our bodies need it to function properly so it is important that we intake a good amount of water daily.  Some people don’t like drinking the recommended 2-3 liters of water a day, mostly because a soda, juice, coffee, or a cocktail seem like a better option, but beware.  Sugar slows down the absorption of fluids into the body additionally, such drinks contain calories that might sometimes make the difference between weight loss and weight gain.  But there is good news!  Drinking water is not the only way that we can meet our recommended intake, certain foods contain a significant amount of water that just by eating them we help ourselves meet the recommended goal.  Here is a list of five fruits and veggies that have the highest water content.

Fruits:

– Watermelon (92% water)
– Strawberries (92% water)
– Grapefruits (91% water)
– Cantaloupe (90% water)
– Peaches (88% water)

Veggies:

– Lettuce (96% water)
– Cucumber (96% water)
– Celery (95% water)
– Radish (95% water)
– Zucchini (95% water)

Additionally, for those of you. who think that drinking less water means less lbs on the scale, bear in mind that the more water we consume, the less we retain, because a clean inner body works more effectively.  So the next time you are looking a little puffy get yourself a glass of water that could definitely help to alleviate the problem. There is not a single diet in the world that restricts water consumption.

The most important  health and beauty related benefits of water consumption are:

External benefits:

– Additional moisture for our skin
– Prevents the aging process
– A more fit body.

Internal benefits:

– Headaches: 75% of our brain is made of water. So, when the body has a water deficit, the brain will be the one of the first who will signal the problem, causing headaches. When drinking alcohol, although some might not recommend, water might be the solution to get back in shape because it eliminates toxins and re-hydrates the brain.

– Back pains: are often caused by fluid deficits in our bodies. The disks within our backs are filled with fluids, mainly water, and act like shock absorbers. Regular movement and a proper fluid level will keep these disks hydrated and will allow them to support the weight of the upper body. Usually, the fluid inside the disks support 75% of the weight, while the shell supports 25% of it. When the fluid level drops, the shell is forced to support a higher weight level, causing pains and other problems.

– Reduces infections: The lymphatic systems in our body is responsible for waste disposal. This system breaks down toxins before passing them into the blood stream. A low intake of water will disturb the flow of lymph in our systems, making our bodies less resistant to dangerous infections.

– Hypertension often occurs when the human body is trying to adjust to blood volume loss. Our blood is almost 85% water, so its volume depends a lot of the water intake. When the body detects a drop in the blood volume, it closes less active capillary beds in order to maintain active areas proper fueled with blood. When vessels close, they cause a tension increase in the muscles. So, water helps by increasing the blood volume and thus, reducing tension.

– Concentration: water is used to flush out toxins contained by certain food products (preservatives, additives, etc.). By drinking water, these toxins are flushed quickly from the liver, making you more active and increasing your concentration capacity.

– Arthritis: water is used to lubricate joints between our bones. When water intake is low, the friction between cartilage surfaces increases, causing swellings, pains, etc.

– Breath: bad breath is a clear sign that your body needs more water. Our saliva helps the cleaning process of our teeth of bacteria and keeps our tongue hydrated.

– Cramps: oxygen is transported to our muscles by blood. If the blood is not properly oxygenated, muscles create lactic acid causing cramps. By drinking water we make sure that our blood is fueled with oxygen.

– Alleviates  asthma,  fluid retention, morning sickness, and an important factor of proper digestion.

There are many other benefits of drinking water. A proper hydrated body is a more healthy, beautiful, and resistant body.