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When, how and why you need to drink water

We all know that our body requires water to keep it working properly but many times we are unable to drink the normal amount of water as required by our body. It isn't ideal to make general suggestions about fluid intake, as they depend on person to person, their activity type, location, health status, weight, age, etc. This article will help you get an idea of how, when and why i.e. the correct way to drink water to meet your daily body fluid needs.


Our body is about 70% water and other parts like the brain contains 74% water, bone has 22%, blood contains 83% water and muscle has 75% water. Drinking enough water is essential for optimum health and one of the most potent forms of treatment. Water helps to keep our body in good health, aid digestion, lubricate joints, maintain electrolyte balance, promote cell health and have good skin, hair and complexion, maintain blood pressure and body temperature, etc. Some say, men need to drink 3.5 litres (11 – 12 glass of 300ml) and women need to drink 2.5 litres (8 – 9 glass of 300ml) of water each day but for some, even if they drink 1.5 litres (5 glasses of 300ml) is enough. So how can we judge that water intake in a person? The best way is to drink water only when you feel like. Your water requirement may be less or more as compared to others but it's important to stay hydrated so think wise, drink your water the right manner, at correct interval and at the right frequency to your heart's content.

[Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_water#/media/File:Drinking_water.jpg]

Body signals to drink water

By observing our body, the right moment and answer to start drinking water can be sensed through various symptoms.

  • Urine: When you go to pee, the colour of the urine tells a lot of things. When you pass clear and light-yellow or pale-yellow urine, it means that our body has enough water. Dark-yellow urine indicates that the water in the body is low while cloudy urine shows signs of some infection. Normally, the first pee in the morning after getting up will be dark yellow and you need to start drinking water and slowly, the colour of urine will change.

  • Skin: When we sit in an air-conditioned room or stroll out, our skin may feel dry, on a hot day, itchy and wrinkled, it indicates that we are dehydrated and need to drink water. Once we start drinking water, we may feel fresh, good and energetic.

  • Lip and throat: If you have a dry throat or you notice chapped lips, it is the indication that our body is becoming dry and need to drink fluid or water to keep it soft, smooth and supple.

The correct way to drink water

  1. Early morning when you wake up and before sleep: We sleep for nearly 6 to 8 hours at night and our body loses water while we sleep. Drink 1-2 glass of water. The water can be normal or warm. Drinking water will help hydrate and keep the body fresh. It helps to clean the digestive systems and flush out the toxins that have accumulated all night. It also aids to keep away bladder and skin infections and prevent dryness of the skin.
    Drinking water before going to bed at night helps you to regulate the blood flow, cell renewal, replenish any fluid loss that can occur during the night and prevent dry mouth and bad breath that often a problem in many people.

  2. Drink regular, fresh, clean plain water: When we talk about drinking water, its about drinking normal, fresh, pure drinking water and no other liquids like beverages (tea, coffee), soft drinks, sugary drinks (Juices), aerated drinks or energy drinks, alcohol, etc. This coffee and alcohol can dehydrate us, and the soda and other drinks have high phosphorus and sugar content that leads to diabetes, osteoporosis, etc.

  3. Drink lukewarm water before and after meal: Always drink water 30 minutes before a meal as it helps digestion. This will also help us filled and avoid overeating.
    Drink water 30 minutes after meal let the body to absorb the nutrients. The food we ate starts to breakdown into smaller particles and compounds within the stomach by the digestive juices and if we drink water before the process is complete, it will the water will dilute the digestive juices and the food won't be adequately digested resulting in acidity, etc.
    When the digestive juices are produced by the body, it is a kind of fire that aids in the digestion of food so cold water can harm the digestion process. Drinking lukewarm water (body/room temperature water) helps in proper digestion of the food and prevent the growth of harmful microbes and bacteria inside the body.

  4. Sit, relax and drink slowly: It is a normal thing seen in many people that we just gulp down a glass or two when we feel thirsty, but this is just like wasting water. Water must be sipped in a gentle and smooth manner, this will support in absorbing the minerals present in the water into the body. Just gulping down a glass of water in a second may find it difficult for the body to absorb and penetrate the fluids into the body and water may just be expelled from the body. Therefore, many people pee a lot after drinking water and probably the body has just not absorbed water into the system. One can even try adding a pinch of any unrefined mineral salt without making it salty to your water and then drink. This helps in absorbing the water by our body system.
    Research has found that one needs to sit while we have our drink as it relaxes the muscles and even helps the nervous system to handle the pressure and stress, especially on the heart and balances the body weight due to the pressure. When we stand and drink water, the unwanted fluid gets accumulated in between the joints and thus prevents the smooth flow of blood, water, and other liquids in our body. In the long run, this can lead to arthritis.

  5. Drink only when required: Our body needs water and it will show by feeling thirsty. But this does not mean that we need to fill our stomach with water. Out of 100%, a perfect body needs only 25% of water within it, the other 50% is for the food that we eat and the rest 25% is the space for the digestive juices for digestion of food that we consume. Too much water can upset our body and lead to indigestion, stomach pain, diarrhoea and loose stools, etc.

  6. Drink from Copper, mud or silver Vessels: Nowadays, we store water in plastic and glass containers but these containers after certain period give out toxic whereas drinking water from Copper, mud or silver Vessels has health beneficial properties.
    The Copper vessels kill the bacteria in water and remove the unwanted toxins from the water. It also forms antioxidants which are beneficial for the body. The mud vessels help to naturally filter the water of any sediments and particles thus providing clean and fresh water for drinking.

  7. Drink frequently: Drinking a glass of water at a regular interval or every hour will help to manage the daily water intake requirement of our body. During summer or hot climate, need to drink more water. Drink more water when you exercise or play outdoor games (extra 1-2 glass) to compensate for fluid loss. Drink enough water when you are sick, as one may not feel the need to drink and get dehydrated. Drinking water will help our body recuperate from various infections. Expecting (pregnant) or breast-feeding women needs take in about 10-13 glass of fluids or water every day to stay hydrated.

Benefits of drinking Water:

  • Water contains 0% calories and 9. Water helps reduce weight. By drinking a glass or two of water before a meal will make you feel full and eat less, thus helping in reducing weight.

  • By drinking water, it helps in flushing out bacteria from the bladder by making you pee more, thus treats urinary tract infection.

  • Many people complain of acidity or heartburn. Drinking water every 30 minutes helps to flush out acid away thus reducing heartburn, same as antacid medicine.

  • By drinking ample quantity of water every day prevents wrinkles, fine lines, dry skin, tired eyes, etc. and helps to keep your skin soft, beautiful and radiant.

  • Drinking water prevents dehydration and thus diarrhoea, constipation and other disease associated with it like diverticulosis, haemorrhoids, etc. drinking a glass of water mixed with ¼ teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoon salt (dextrose/ rehydration solution) will help you rehydrate.

  • Drinking water when having cold, cough, throat pain, fever, etc. helps to loosen sticky phlegm and flush out the heat, infection and bacteria out of the body through urination thus helps to treat and recover faster.

  • Drinking enough water prevents stone (kidney, etc.,) as it breaks up the substances that develop stones in the urine.

  • Drinking water keeps you energetic as the oxygenated blood can easily be distributed easily making our brain active and freshen our mind. It thus helps to heal migraine, fatigues, stress, headaches, etc.

  • Drinking water 10-15 minutes before taking a shower or bath helps to lower our blood pressure and keep our blood pressure under control.

Drinking adequate quantity of water is essential for good health and help you be healthy, fit, in good shape and glow from inside. Thus, drinking enough water at the right time, the right quantity and the right amount will always help you keep many diseases away and lead a healthy and fresh life.


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