You are aware that you require water to survive, and you feel better when you drink it on a regular basis. But what happens in the body when you drink water?
In a nutshell, a lot.
According to the US Geological Survey, your body weight is approximately 60% water. Water is used in all of your body’s cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s critical to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating water-containing foods.
Here are some of the reasons why water is such a powerful element for your health.
Water shields your tissues, spine, and joints.
According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, water does more than just quench your thirst and regulate your body’s temperature; it also keeps your body’s tissues moist. How does it feel when your eyes, nose, or mouth become dry? Keeping your body hydrated aids in the retention of optimal moisture levels in these sensitive areas, as well as the blood, bones, and brain. Furthermore, water protects the spinal cord and acts as a lubricant and cushion for your joints.
Digestion is aided by water.
Water is necessary for proper digestion. According to the Mayo Clinic, water aids in the breakdown of food, allowing nutrients to be absorbed by your body. Following a drink, both your small and large intestines absorb water, which enters your bloodstream and is used to break down nutrients. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, stool changes from liquid to solid as your large intestine absorbs water. According to MedlinePlus, water is also required to aid the digestion of soluble fiber. With the aid of water, this fiber gels and slows digestion.
Water keeps you hydrated and keeps you from becoming dehydrated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your body loses fluids when you exercise vigorously, sweat in hot weather, get a fever, or contract an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhoea. If you’re losing fluids for any of these reasons, you should up your fluid intake to restore your body’s natural hydration level. Your doctor may also advise you to drink more fluids in order to treat other health issues, such as bladder infections and urinary tract stones. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should talk to your doctor about your fluid intake because your body will need more fluids than usual, especially if you’re breastfeeding.
Water is good for your cardiovascular system.
Water makes up a large portion of your blood. (For example, plasma, the pale yellow liquid portion of your blood, is approximately 90% water, according to Britannica.) According to Susan Blum, MD, founder of the Blum Center for Health in Rye Brook, New York, when you become dehydrated, your blood becomes more concentrated, which can lead to an imbalance of the electrolyte minerals it contains (sodium and potassium, for example). These electrolytes are required for normal muscle and heart function.