We use it for everything, two thirds of the world is covered with it and 60% of our body is made up of it, yet only 34% of the American population drink the recommended amount of what is the most important nutrient we will ever need; water.
Although it may seem something odd to master, many people do not have this skill or ability. However, mastering it will reap several benefits. It has been said it only takes 50 consecutive times of doing something before it's a habit. However, making it a skill takes thought and consideration. It enhances your life. Believe it or not, this is definitely something water can do.
So what are the benefits? Well, for starters, some people may not understand why they are so tired during a workout, or why they seem to have poor muscle tone or water retention problems. The answer is quite simple; they are not getting enough water.
Something to ponder, if the human brain is made up of 95% water and blood is 82% and lungs 90% what happens when there is a 2% drop in our body's water supply? Well there are several things that happen such as, fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print like a computer screen. These are all signs of dehydration! So if you are having a hard time reading this you may want to drink some water. Another important thing to know is that mild dehydration one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. It has been estimated that about 75% Americans suffer from mild, chronic dehydration on a daily basis.
It is also a fact that a person can live a few months with out food but only five to seven days without water. Yet look around you. How many people do you see swinging back a cold crisp can of water or savoring the aroma of a hot cup of water in the morning? Not to many I would assume.
So if people are not drinking water, what are they drinking? Well, water is being replaced with soda, coffee, juice and various other beverages that can actually inhibit the very thing that fluid is meant for, to cleanse the body and allow chemical reactions to occur.
Did you also know that without water, we'd be poisoned to death by our own waste product? When the kidneys remove uric acid and urea, these must be dissolved in water. If there isn't enough water, wastes are not removed as effectively and may build up as kidney stones.
Water also is vital in digestion and metabolism. It carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells through the blood and helps to cool the body through perspiration. Water also lubricates our joints.
In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also helps to prevent our bodies from diseases. Some amazing approximations are that just by drinking eight glasses of water on a daily basis, you can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50%. Water has been known even potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer! These are just a few of that many examples of what water can do.
It is recommended, by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Science, that people drink 2 to 3 quarts of water per day but many people barely swallow it when they are rinsing their teeth. Sugary drinks have also been linked to childhood obesity but if you look around it would appear no one seems phased by the childhood obesity epidemic. I personally do not see enough children running around with a bottle of water or even see water being advertised on television by some cute pink bunny or star athlete, which strikes me as odd.
The truth is, many people think water is just to plain and to boring. Before you go putting your stock in bottled water you might want to pay attention to what people are drinking. I think Coke and Pepsi own the market. As far as getting past the boring, you never will.
The question is do you want to live? If you do, how do you want to do it? I think mastering the skill of drinking water is highly beneficial. It is very easy and for the most part free. However, it is still something you have to work at accomplishing. So go ahead, take a sip or two.
