Drinking More Water: How Does It Improve Your Health?
Any nutritionist, doctor or health specialist will always recommend that we drink enough water throughout the day to feel better, but what does drinking more water actually give us?
In this article we review the great benefits of this simple and natural habit that costs us so much, to give us several reasons to make this little effort.
When to drink more water
The first step to benefit from drinking water is knowing how and when to do it for it to be a curative therapy. For this we must follow the following tips:
- The most important time to drink water is on an empty stomach. We can sip up to four glasses half an hour before breakfast, if our body accepts it. We will gradually increase the amount day by day.
- Mid-morning, mid-afternoon or half an hour before meals.
- Just before going to bed, if it does not force us to get up to urinate during the night.
- During exercise.
Outside of meals we must drink the daily amount of water between one and a half and two liters. Factors such as age, lifestyle or diet will determine these amounts.
Improves kidney function
Drinking more water will almost immediately lead to an improvement in our body’s ability to eliminate toxins naturally.
It will help us to optimize the function of our kidneys, which will be able to carry waste more easily. It is the best way to prevent kidney stones.
Facilitates digestion
Although water is a simple drink, if we drink it on an empty stomach, it has surprising properties that facilitate and improve all digestive function, from the work of the stomach to intestinal activity.
The simple fact of drinking a glass of water half an hour before lunch allows us to eat more calmly. It produces a satiating effect, facilitates digestion, prevents acidity and improves the assimilation of fiber from food, which results in a good work of the intestine.
Prevent constipation
As we have said in the previous point, water is essential for the intestine. People who suffer from intestinal disorders such as irritable bowel, diarrhea or constipation with hard stools, need to provide more water to their body.
A good tip is to drink hot water on an empty stomach, half an hour before breakfast. And it will be even more effective if we drink it between 5 and 7 in the morning, which is the time when the intestine should be activated.
Hydrates our body
Water is one of the fuels in our body. It is vital to perform all functions, since most of our body is made up of this element.
If we don’t drink enough, we will feel drained of energy and our skin will be dry and dull, which are two of the most obvious signs of a lack of hydration.
Drinking more water is the best anti-wrinkle remedy, since the signs of aging are related, in the first place, to the progressive dehydration of the body. Therefore, in addition to caring for the skin with creams, we must hydrate it from within.
Take care of the heart
Yes. Drinking water also takes care of the effect on the cardiovascular system. If we drink water throughout the day we will be reducing the risk of suffering a heart attack.
There are some studies that recommend, in this case, drinking a glass of water half an hour before going to bed to minimize the risk.
Excellent for athletes
Water is even more essential if we do sports regularly. Especially when it is intense exercise that increases sweating.
We must drink water continuously to facilitate recovery and replenish hydration of the body, as well as to avoid cramps, increase metabolism and maintain energy levels.
Helps to lose weight
Many people drink water to lose weight, and this is also a valid reason, since drinking water outside of meals has been shown to reduce appetite.
Some studies have shown that, on many occasions, we eat because we are thirsty, and we confuse the signals. In addition, this way we also avoid drinking other drinks rich in sugar or with alcohol and snacking at all times.