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Water - Why We Need To Drink 8 Glasses A Day

By: Maria Esposito Usually about two and a half litres of water is needed each day for a reasonably sedentary adult to replace the total water loss that occurs through skin, lungs, faeces and urine, unless they are in an unusual environment.

Just under half of this should be in the form of drinks such as water or cold herbal teas and just under a litre from food. The remaining 300ml is created by the body from its own metabolic processes.

Problems that arise from not drinking enough water is as follows.

1. The pulse rate goes up and there is an increase in the rectal temperature

2. Respiration increases

3. Experience numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes

4. Blood concentration increases

5. Lessening of the blood volume and more difficult blood circulation

Problems and inadequacies of the circulatory system under conditions of inadequate fluid intake leads to:

1. breathing problems

2. gastrointestinal upsets

3. feelings of sickness and not wanting to eat

4. if it carries on for an extended period it will cause problems with muscle movement and unstable emotions

In an animal study, where water was restricted the animals were highly irritable and in some cases bad tempered.

Thirst

It has been demonstrated that under intense physical activity a male will only drink voluntarily around 50% as much water as what is required to replace losses from urine and sweat. Only after rest and food do the cravings for the required amount of water return to replace the fluid deficit.

Hot Drinks

After drinking hot liquids, the internal temperature of the body rises, resulting in sweating. This cools the body down. This is sometimes used in the practice of medicine when an increase in body temperature is required for a short time, or whether sweating is required. So it is preferable to choose cool or cold drinks rather than hot ones to replace fluid losses, particularly if hot drinks are the only types of drinks that are normally chosen.

Sugar drinks

During periods of physical activity that last under an hour and a half, water is the preferred choice. However drinks that contain a small amount of carbohydrate can sustain power better than water alone during activities that would create fatigue in an hour or longer.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Maria has worked in alternative medicine as a nutritionalist and reflexologist. She is qualified in therapeutic massage and sports injury management. Her speciality is the treatment of allergies. She can be contacted at london nutritionist

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