Water - Why We Need To Drink 8 Glasses A Day
Author: MariaEsposito Total views: 14 Word Count: 338
Normally, approximately 2.5 litres of water is required daily for a fairly sedentary adult in a normal environment to replace the total loss of water that occurs though urine, faeces, skin and lungs.
This water loss needs to be replaced. One litre or so needs to be as water or other non dehydrating fluids such as cold herbal teas. A little under a litre will come from food intake. The body also makes about 300ml through its own oxidative metabolic processes.
What happens if you don't drink enough water?
1. Pulse rate and rectal temperature increases
2. Respiration increases
3. Experience numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes
4. Blood concentration increases
5. Reduced blood volume and more difficult circulation of the blood
The difficulty and inadequacy of the circulation of blood under these conditions leads to:
1. difficulties in breathing
2. gastrointestinal upsets
3. nauseousness and loss of appetite
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
Under a great deal of physical activity it has been demonstrated that a man will only choose to drink half of the water intake needed to replace losses from sweat and urine. It takes a period of rest and a meal for the cravings for water to return to replace losses.
Hot Drinks
Ingestion of hot drinks may cause internal body temperature to rise, which will result in sweating in order to cool the body down. Hot drinks are sometimes used in medical practice when it is desired either to temporarily increase body temperature of induce sweating. Therefore cold or cool drinks are preferred to hot drinks to replace fluid during the day, especially if the hot drinks are the only fluid daily intake.
Sugary drinks
Water is the preferred choice of liquid for physical activities that last less than 90 minutes. For activities that would create fatigue after an hour or so, drinks that contain some carbohydrate are better for sustaining power output than water alone.
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About the Author
For an expanded version of this article please go to the alternative medicine website. Maria is a london nutritionist who specialises in the treatment of allergic disorders. She has worked in the complementary medical field for over a decade.
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