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Nutritional Value of Water

As children, we are told to brush our teeth, drink our milk, and eat our vegetables if we want to grow up strong and healthy. Unfortunately, the health benefits of drinking water are sometimes underappreciated, despite its function in nearly every bodily system and process that occurs. Classified as an essential nutrient, water is indispensable to the body's health.

  1. Circulation

    • The body is made up of roughly 65 to 70 percent water, which allows the water that is present in every area of the body to act as a transportation system. Water circulates through the blood stream, delivering oxygen, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to vital organs and cells. Water is also charged with the task of helping maintain body temperature.

    Weight

    • Water plays many crucial roles in maintaining a healthy body weight. Water is a natural appetite suppressant, so fulfilling the daily recommended eight cups of water may help curb hunger and keep your body energized. Staying hydrated also helps prevent weight gain by maintaining kidney and liver functionality. According to North Caroline State University Health Services, inadequate amounts of water inhibit kidney function, forcing the liver, which metabolizes fat, to take over. This places an undue strain on the liver, making it more difficult to do its job and metabolize fat. Adequate amounts of water also allow for proper digestion and the body's absorption of nutrients.

    Muscle and Skin Tone

    • In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, water also helps maintain muscle tone. Muscles rely on water to fuel the body, deliver nutrients and regenerate cells. These benefits are extended to skin as well. Water's role in blood circulation and the removal of toxins from the body helps keep skin vibrant and firm.

    Prevention

    • As with any nutrient, vitamin or mineral, water also has a hand in preventing and curing many health conditions. According to Organicfacts.net, water can help prevent such conditions as arthritis, migraine headaches, constipation and heartburn. Water can help avoid cardiovascular conditions by keeping the blood thin and clean of toxins to avoid buildup in the blood stream. The solvency of water helps prevent kidney stones by dissolving the salts and minerals before they amass to form stones.

    Daily Intake

    • The vital necessity of water can be stressed by noting the body's inability to survive for more than one week without water, while being able to go without food for several weeks. Though water has no caloric value, every bodily process would be compromised once dehydration sets in. To maintain an adequate amount of water, it is recommended that you consume at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water daily to replenish what is lost from sweat and urination. Daily water intake does not have to come solely from drinking; fruits and vegetables are a good source of water as well.

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