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Glass of Water Guide to Water

Water is an important part of our daily lives. It is necessary for every living being on this earth. Take a look at what you do usually: you drink water, cook with water, bathe in water and do a whole lot more. However, in spite of all this, we have very little knowledge about this liquid. So, read on to increase your knowledge about it.

Why our bodies need water

Half of our bodies is made up of water. Blood requires 80% of water and muscles 70%. This liquid nourishes our body in the following way: It flows through the body, gives water and nutrients to each cell, and takes away waste from our bodies. It also provides the body with a cooling system by taking excreting heat through the skin, which eventually evaporates as sweat. Other than that, it provides many other advantages like softening skin, making muscles move smoothly and helping your joints work for a longer period.

When you need more water

Sometimes, you will feel like you need more water. This happens during:

Exercise Routines: When you exercise, you tend to lose lots of water. This can lead to a situation called "dehydration", which is when the body is short of water. Dehydration makes your muscles tire easily. You should drink at least 16 glasses of water every day when exercising.

Illness: Your body will require more water if you are sick or affected by some illness like vomiting or fever.

Exposure to Heat: During a hot day or while spending some time in hot weather, your body will sweat easily. Hence, more water glasses should be taken before and after you have been exposed to the heat.

Thirst: If you are thirsty, that would mean that you need to drink more water in order to cover up the loss you have did. It is best to drink two extra glasses of water when you feel thirsty.

Water and other Drinks

One thing you may believe in once someone tells you to remain hydrated is that you can drink other liquids. Some drink manufacturers claim to be better than water. However, this is not true as a lot of drinks contain artificial flavors that contradict the positive effects of water. While choosing what to drink, some of the following point should be kept in mind:

Avoid junk juice drinks because they provide no nutrition and have a lot of sugar in them.

Avoid carbonated drinks, as they can make you feel swollen. A regular can contains about 10 spoons of sugar.

Before starting any game or exercise, drink lots of water rather than soft drinks. This can lead to low blood pressure during the game.

You can use sports drinks, as they give carbohydrate boost to you. But don't drink them in large quantities, as they don't exactly satisfy your thirst.

Don't take lots of coffee and tea in your diet. Both of these make your kidneys pull water from the blood stream and also affect the digestive system.

Avoid drinks with lots of sugar as they decrease your speed of hydration.

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