Cranberry juice helps fight off gum disease and urinary tract infections. Low-fat milk protects you against osteoporosis and stabilizes blood sugar. Green tea reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and cavities. Yet despite the health benefits of
Cranberry juice helps fight off gum disease and urinary tract infections. Low-fat milk protects you against osteoporosis and stabilizes blood sugar. Green tea reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and cavities. Yet despite the health benefits of all these drinks, none of them can hold a candle to the healthiest beverage available, the one your body needs to survive: water.
While juices, teas and milk all offer your body some sort of nutritional benefit, they can also have nutritional drawbacks, whether it's in the form of sugar, calories or fat. Water, on the other hand, is calorie-, sugar-, fat- and sodium-free and keeps your body functioning properly. Each cell in your body requires water to work properly. Water regulates your temperature, lubricates your joints, protects your spinal cord and removes waste from your body.
How Much Water?
Although your body gets water through some of the foods you eat, including water-rich produce such as celery, tomatoes, oranges and melons, it might be difficult to obtain the recommended amount without sipping on a glass of water every now and then. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women consume 2.7 liters, or 91 ounces, of water each day, while men should have 3.7 liters, or 125 ounces daily. Your body loses water daily through sweat, urination and other functions, but certain situations lead you to need more water. These include living or exercising in a hot climate, being very physically active or experiencing diarrhea or vomiting.
Risk of Dehydration
If you’re not drinking enough water, your body will let you know via symptoms of dehydration. This condition occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water to function properly. Symptoms of dehydration include feeling lightheaded or dizzy, dry lips and mouth, rapid heartbeat and decreased urine or urine that looks dark yellow. Mild dehydration can be curbed by drinking water; however, serious conditions that can lead to heat illnesses or even death might need hospitalization and intravenous fluids.
Boosting Water Intake
It’s tempting to reach for a flavored beverage because it tastes better or is more interesting than plain old water. However, you can boost the flavor of the water by adding sliced fruit or crushed herbs such as mint or basil to your glass of ice water. If you crave the carbonation of soda, switch to sparkling water. Don’t forget, drinking water instead of soda or juice can save you money -- it’s often free -- and can help you lose weight. Carry a water bottle so it’s always easy to access.
- Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images