Ashley Cooper

Photo's Courtesy of Ashley Cooper.
Photo Credits:
Mike from www.madnessmodeling.com
Slim Angel Calderon

Water plays a big role in flushing our bodies of harmful toxins. If the body does not have enough water to support this function, the metabolic wastes are unable to be removed successfully. Many of these toxins are held in our kidneys, without water we risk damage to these vital organs. Another benefit of drinking water is to carry nutrients into the cells of the body, which feed our muscles, bones, and organs assisting them in their proper function.

In addition, water is beneficial for our muscles and in maintaining proper muscle tone while preventing aggravating muscle cramping. This is a huge one for athletes or those of you who exercise! H20 also keeps our joints lubricated and increases energy levels, something we ALL could benefit from.

Now, think about all those nasty and harmful toxins our body produces daily…these pollutants are streaming throughout our system just waiting for a way out. If we do not consume enough water to frequently urinate these toxins out, they will eventually find another way to leave. Where is this alternative route you ask? They escape though the pores in our skin, which leads to acne. One of the easiest ways I can think of to avoid break outs is by simply drinking water!

Now you might be wondering, how does water relate in any way to maintaining a healthy body weight. By introducing water which virtually has no carbs, sugars or calories, in place of juice and soda, you are limiting your body’s intake thus reducing adding extra pounds. In addition to using water as a replacement, water can help curve your cravings. The average food craving lasts only from 12-14 minutes, such a short amount of time can seem so long when you are itching for your favorite candy bar. Rather than giving into your cravings, pick up a class of water, this will help to fill the empty void in your stomach during those moments of weakness. If you still have the taste for something sweet, add a Crystal Light to your water and enjoy!

How much water should a person drink in a day? There are few different ideas on this, the most popular being the 8 by 8 rule, eight 8oz waters a day. However, people vary in size and activity levels so their intake levels may not be the same. While it is a good idea to try to get about 8 glasses of water in a day, you may need more or less. The best way to monitor your water intake is to pay attention to your body, and go with how you feel. If you have even one symptom of dehydration (yellow urine, head ache, dry mouth…) you may need more water. If you are working out or are in a hot environment, your body is exerting much more water so you will need to constantly replace it during your activity.