Water Consumption Also Protects Us From A Tight Stomach

Water consumption is important not only during the heat. It is a basic building block in the body and no living being can exist without it. Water is essential for every cell and function in the body and its lack can lead to various health problems. According to a recent survey, 39.87% of Americans do not drink enough water, and 1 in 100 people do not drink water at all, which is a worrying statistic.

 

- Why is water consumption so important?

Water is an essential element of nature and our bodies. In newborns, water represents 75% of their body weight, and in adults the content drops to 50%. Drinking water is extremely important for maintaining the balance of fluids in the body. With insufficient water intake, older people are at significant risk of dehydration. Constipation is just one of the unpleasant problems associated with insufficient water consumption, which is why regular drinking of fluids remains the best medicine.

No living thing will survive without water. Water affects all areas of our lives and is an important part of maintaining our health. Water is needed in the fight against infectious diseases, cancer, maintains the health of the immune system and skin, participates in the biochemistry of the body and helps to increase energy levels.

Drinking water is an ideal substitute for higher calorie or soft drinks full of sugar and thus helps in weight loss. Water removes fat breakdown products and naturally suppresses our appetite.

Insufficient water consumption can lead to dysfunction of the nervous system, expressed as - fatigue, headache, decreased concentration and memory. With every 1% dehydration, the body temperature rises by 0.1 - 0.2 degrees, and when it exceeds 2%, performance decreases. According to statistics, every sixth Bulgarian has kidney problems. This does not come to be interpreted at all, that we need to be hyperhydrated. It is not true that the more water you drink, the better it is for your health and your kidneys in particular.

The recommended daily amount of water for a healthy person depends on many factors - weight, type of work performed, diet, etc. Any overdose of water, on the other hand, leads to wear and tear of the kidneys.

- What is the required daily amount of water in the body?

The answer to this question is very relative and depends on the individual characteristics of the person. As a rule, it is recommended to take 1.5 - 2 liters of fluids daily. Practical advice for self-stimulating water consumption is to learn to always keep a bottle of water on the desk in the office or in your bag. It is important to know that for every drink that contains caffeine, you should drink an extra glass of water.

- And the children - how much water should they consume per day?

Again, the rule of the individual approach applies. Different children are differently active. In summary, newborns should consume 150 ml of fluids per kilogram of body weight, children - 50 - 60 ml, and adults - about 30 - 35 ml per kilogram of body weight. Sources of water can be different types of fruit drinks, the fruits themselves, soups, etc.

- Is thirst the only symptom that signals the need to hydrate the body? By what other signs can we understand the body's need for water?

Insufficient water intake impairs cellular function by causing electrolyte imbalance, decreased plasma volume and inability to regulate body temperature. Most people do not drink water until they feel thirsty. At this point, however, body fluids have dropped below the level needed for the body to function normally. Water losses increase with physical exertion, hot weather, low humidity, high altitude, a high-fiber diet, consumption of beverages containing caffeine and alcohol. So my advice is not to wait until you feel thirsty, but to drink regularly at short intervals.

Other symptoms of dehydration are: decreased skin turgor, dry skin, confusion, dizziness, weakness, muscle cramps, exhaustion; irregular pulse rate.

- Does it matter what kind of water we consume - spring, mineral, tap? Which of them is most suitable for our body? Should we alternate it?

Mineral water is usually extracted from a depth of 300 to 700 m. Through processes that took thousands of years, in the cavities with water in the bowels of the Earth, the minerals from the rocks have passed into the water. Therefore, these waters have a higher total mineralization and spring with a temperature above 20 degrees Celsius. The most used brands of mineral water in Bulgaria have a total mineralization of 200 - 450 mg / l (Devin, Gorna Banya, Bankya, Hissar, Thorne Spring, etc.).

Spring water is extracted significantly closer to the earth's surface, at a depth of 0 - 100 m, at a temperature below 20 degrees Celsius. As "younger" waters, they have a very low mineralization - usually 80 - 100 mg / l. The most common in Bulgaria is a popular brand of spring water with a pink label, which has a very low total mineralization - 82 mg / l and a very low level of sodium / salt - 5.4 mg / l. It is recommended for babies, on low sodium diets and when it is important to avoid water retention in the body.

Table water can also have a very low mineralization, but this is the result of treatment to disinfect or remove unwanted micro- or macronutrients or bad smell, taste.

Tap water is an example of table water. It is filtered and necessarily treated with chlorine, traveled kilometers along the water supply network and changed its composition depending on the pipes and reservoirs through which it flowed and stayed. In some areas it is "hard" and more mineralized.