Show Your Body Some Love – Drink Up!

Even a small drop in fluid levels can impact our wellbeing, causing headaches, fatigue and poor concentration, so if you want to feel your best at work and in life, make sure you drink up! 

If you need just one reason to drink more water, research shows that those who drink two glasses of water before breakfast, lunch and dinner are better able to lose weight and keep it off, as long as they stick with the healthy habit. (Ref. 1)

Why water is so important?

Whether you prefer your water lukewarm or icy cold, H20 is as important as oxygen when it comes to keeping our bodies working well.

Of all the things we take into our bodies, it’s humble water that works the hardest. It cushions our joints, helps us eliminate waste, allows our bodies to absorb vitamins and minerals and then works nonstop delivering those nutrients to our cells and organs.

Dehydration is more common than we think

Think only guys working outside in a summer heatwave or endurance athletes can get dehydrated? Think again. Turns, many of us are mildly dehydrated a lot of the time.

“We have a tendency in the U.S. to drink a lot of beverages that are mildly dehydrating,” said Mary Grace Webb, Assistant Director for Clinical Nutrition at New York Hospital, in an interview with CBS News. (Ref. 2)

It’s easy to mistake thirst for hunger and reach for a snack to fill the gap, says Webb.

“Because the human body is so unique, it will say ‘I want water’ in food, in any way, shape or form,”. “People just think that when they start to get a little weak or they have a headache, they need to eat something, but most often they need to drink.”

What happens when we don’t drink enough?

We lose water about 10 cups of water every day –through our breath, perspiration and other bodily functions, so it’s vital to replenish those lost fluids to enable your body to function at its best.

If we don’t get enough H20, we put our body under serious strain, increasing our risk of headaches, fatigue, and even weight gain. Dehydration slows our metabolism, so if it’s a trim waistline your after make sure you drink up.

Lack of H20 can also cause some more serious health effects, including:

High blood pressure.
Our blood is made up of about 92 percent water, and when levels are low, the blood becomes thicker, and requires the heart to do more work to pump it through our body. (Ref. 2)

High cholesterol.
When we’re dehydrated, our bodies produce more cholesterol to prevent cells becoming too dry from lack of water.

Skin problems.
When we don’t drink enough water, we’re unable to flush toxins, causing a build up in the skin that can lead to acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, discolouration and premature ageing.

Fatigue.
Feel exhausted partway through your workout? You probably didn’t drink enough.. When we’re dehydrated, our body’s enzymatic processes slow to a crawl, leaving us feeling exhausted.

Joint stiffness and pain.
The cartilage that cushions our joints is made up mostly of water, and when we don’t get enough, cartilage may become weakened and thin, triggering pain.

Digestive ails.
Constipation, ulcers, acid reflux and gastritis are all strongly linked to lack of water.

Kidney and bladder problems.
Lack of fluid can cause a build up of toxins in the kidney and bladder, creating an environment where bacteria can thrive.

So how much water do you really need? According to the Institute of Medicine, a healthy man needs 3 liters of water per day, while women should drink 2.2 liters per day. (Ref. 3) 

Give your body a little extra love

Add a little Zupafood to your water! Our Zupafood collection of supplements are packed with feel-good nutrients like kiwifruit, grape seed extract, wheatgrass, green tea extract and spirulina to promote gentle detoxification, boost energy and immunity and support the health of your entire body. With natural flavorings from real apples, blueberries and mangos, Zupafood is a simple way to boost the taste of your water, while doing your body some good.

References: