Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Magazine Ma | Page 27
water & energy 22.03.2014
Here are 9 powerful reasons to drink water
1. Weight loss. Water is one of the best tools
for weight loss, first of all because it often
replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and
juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn’t
have any calories. But it’s also a great appetite
suppressant, and often when we think we’re
hungry, we’re actually just thirsty. Water has
no fat, no calories, no curbs, no sugar. Drink
plenty to help your weight-loss regimen.
2. Heart healthy. Drinking a good amount of
water could lower your risks of a heart attack.
A six-year study published in the May 1, 2002
American Journal of Epidemiology found
that those who drink more than 5 glasses of
water a day were 41% less likely to die from
a heart attack during the study period than
those who drank less than two glasses.
3. Energy. Being dehydrated can sap your
energy and make you feel tired -- even mild
dehydration of as little as 1 or 2 percent of
your body weight. If you’re thirsty, you’re
already dehydrated -- and this can lead to
fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other
symptoms.
4. Headache cure. Another symptom of
dehydration is headaches. In fact, often when
we have headaches it’s simply a matter of
not drinking enough water. There are lots
of other causes of headaches of course, but
dehydration is a common one.
5. Healthy skin. Drinking water can clear up your
skin and people often report a healthy glow
after drinking water. It won’t happen overnight,
of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy
amount of water can have good effects on
your skin.
6. Digestive problems. Our digestive systems
need a good amount of water to digest food
properly. Often water can help cure stomach
acid problems, and water along with fiber
can cure constipation (often a result of
dehydration).
7. Cleansing. Water is used by the body to help
flush out toxins and waste products from the
body.
8. Cancer risk. Related to the digestive system
item above, drinking a healthy amount of water
has also been found to reduce the risk of colon
cancer by 45%. Drinking lots of water can also
reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50% and
potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.
9. Better exercise. Being dehydrated can severely
hamper your athletic activities, slowing you
down and making it harder to lift weights.
Exercise requires additional water, so be sure
to hydrate before, during and after exercise.