“Water is the best liquid possible to cleanse the tissues…. Drink some, a little time before or after a meal.”—Ellen G. White, Healthful Living, p. 226
I think it goes without saying that water is an especially important part of any diet and lifestyle. Water is one of the eight main health principles that Adventists base their diet on.
Water is the foundation of our body and brain so it’s extremely important to drink enough of it!
Most people know the benefits of water, but here are five you may not know.
Water….
1. Flushes toxins out of your body.
2. Balances Body Fluids
3. Increases Energy
4. Keeps Your Skin Healthy
5. Prevents and Helps to Get Rid of Cramps
Water When You’re Trying To Lose Weight?
You’ve heard that it’s important to drink water when you’re dieting. But does it really contribute to weight loss?
The answer to this question is sadly no…
Water is not a magic pill that works to make you thin, but it does significantly contribute to your dieting regime.
So why should you continue to drink water while you’re dieting?
1. When you lose weight-burn calories- your body creates toxins that need to be flushed out of the body. Water plays a key role in this!
2. Most people experience a loss of water when they start to lose weight. Water is important in this stage of weight loss to prevent dehydration from losing too much water and not replacing it.
3. Dehydration will slow down many processes in the body including fat-burning and it causes a reduction in the volume of blood in the system. Drinking lots of water will help to make the fat-burning process efficient while supplying lots of fluids for the bloodstream. A bigger blood volume equates to more oxygen being available for our muscles to use.
4. Speaking of muscle, water lubricates joints while helping muscles contract. This means that your muscles will be less sore when you are properly hydrated!
5. Do you have a problem with proportions? Drinking water can help you feel fuller so you won’t eat as much!
6. If you have switched over to a good diet that includes lots of fibers then you will need to drink lots of water to make sure that you don’t get constipated.
7. Making sure that you stay hydrated will help you to identify the difference between feeling thirsty and hungry thus helping you to make good diet decisions.
8. Your metabolism will work more efficiently when you are well hydrated. As we’ve already seen our body works best with proper water.
9. You can also replace sugary or caffeine filled drinks with water which helps to reduce your calorie intake.
How Much Should I Drink?
Good question! The amount of water you should drink varies between individuals and depends on many things. How much do you weigh? What kind of activities are you doing? How hot or humid is it and what is your diet like? There are water calculators online that can give you a good estimate of where to start. Also pay attention to your urine. When you are drinking enough it will be a pale yellow color. If you’re not use to drinking much water it’s best to gradually increase the amount you’re drinking and to spread it out through the day.
Is It Possible to Drink Too Much Water?
While this has been a widely talked about topic, I will mention that there is too much of a good thing. In excess, water can dilute the electrolytes in your bloodstream which can cause interference with the way your major organs (brain and heart) work.
What About Substitutions for Water?
Other liquids can provide water for your body, but a lot of drinks are diuretics (soda, tea, alcohol and coffee) which actually cause your body to lose water. Another source of water is the food that we eat including fruits and vegetables.
The best foods for water consumption include:
Lettuce
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Broccoli
Carrots
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Other Uses of Water
Seventh-day Adventists also are firm believers in other benefits of water as well. These include hydrotherapy, hot and cold fomentation and enemas.
