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There are many variations of it, that much is certain, but if there is one thing that you absolutely need to function and survive, it’s this: Water. Water is the fluid of life, literally. You can’t function, and you can’t exist without it. The pure kind, not the many variations sold with loads of added sugar and sweetener, or flavoring. You want and need water in its most basic form, but are you aware of the loads of benefits that are derived from water? If you know you need it, but aren’t entirely certain why, this piece could give you some valuable awareness on the so-called “fluid of life”

If you weren’t quite certain of why water and hydration are so very important, the top reason is clear with a little scenario. You can go for weeks without food, but you can only go 3 days without water, and even that is incredibly dangerous!

Top Reasons Why Water and Hydration are Imperative

Don’t be fooled, just because something is fluid and contains water doesn’t mean it is just as good for you. It is important to remember that it is very difficult for your body to get It is difficult for the body to get water from any other source than water itself. Soft drinks and alcohol steal tremendous amounts of water from the body. Other beverages such as coffee and tea are diuretics therefore actually taking water from the body, decreasing your hydration efforts.

The body is 80% water, and water makes up nearly 85% of your brain, about 80% of your blood and about 70% of your lean muscle and plays a vital role in nearly every one of your body’s functions. Lacking water and hydration in general is a major trigger for fatigue and a drop in hydration can be a trigger for fuzzy short term memory. You also need water to digest nutrients and proteins properly.

RELATED READING: The Deadly Chemicals in Your Tap Water

Staying properly hydrated and getting enough water is very important because it aids in moving toxins out of the body helps remove toxins from the body, in particular from the digestive tract. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Water and Hydration are Essential

Water is essential for proper circulation in the body. The levels of oxygen in the bloodstream are greater when the body is well hydrated. And the more oxygen the body has readily available the more fat it will burn for energy without the presence of oxygen the body cannot utilize stored fat for energy efficiently. Not only will the body burn more fat when well hydrated but because there are increased oxygen levels you will also have more energy.

Water, Hydration and Weight Loss/Diets

And if that wasn’t enough for you, here are a few more interesting water facts. In over 35% of North Americans, the thirst mechanism is extremely weak, so weak in fact that it is often mistaken for hunger which can be detrimental to weight loss efforts. You might try to drink a glass of water when you feel like munching on a midnight snack. Also, as mentioned before keep in mind that all water and hydration methods are not created equal. Make sure you load up on regular plain water as opposed to the high sugar kinds.  As an interesting measure of how much hydration you are actually getting, keep in mind that the typical soft drink, or high sugar sports drink is over 10% sugar solution. Also keep in mind that many experts are the first to say that when you are dehydrated you end up eating more, something else that might not fall in line with your weight loss and diet plans.

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