Health Benefits Of Drinking More Water
Experts say drinking six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day can improve your overall health. Even more enticing: Preliminary studies suggest that drinking water regularly may reduce your risk of heart disease.
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researchers studied the daily water intake of more than 20,000 adults. Those who drank five or more 8-ounce glasses of water a day were less likely to die from a heart attack or other heart-related causes than those who drank fewer than two glasses a day. For example, men who drank at least five glasses had a 54% lower risk of fatal heart disease.Women reduce their risk by 41%.
George Le-Bert, DO, a cardiologist at Baptist Heart Specialists in Fernandina Beach, says the link between water consumption and heart health needs more research. However, medical observers believe the magic may lie in the minerals.
"In general, it seems that people who live in areas with harder water, and by that we mean water that contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, tend to have fewer heart attacks," he says. "It appears that these minerals have a beneficial effect on blood pressure, which may improve heart health.
If so, says Dr. Le-Bert, municipal tap water is the best water for the job.
— it's better than bottled water because tap water still has some minerals in it,” he says. "Many types of mineral water don't have that. Add to this the dangers and environmental concerns associated with plastic packaging.So enjoy the financial benefits of drinking straight from the tap.”
Drinking Water to Stay Fit
Water has other heart-healthy properties, including weight management. The Body Burns Calories Reducing calorie intake and increasing calorie burning can prevent those extra pounds from gaining.And even if drinking water didn't improve heart health, there are plenty of other reasons to drink.
"Dehydration has many negative effects," says Dr. Le Bert. “It impairs physical performance, impairs thinking, can cause kidney stones, and causes constipation and headaches. The amount of water a person needs depends on many factors.As a general guide, try to have a glass of water with each meal and at least one glass of water between meals,” says Dr. Le Bert. “This is mainly due to the sugar and high-fructose corn syrup in these drinks.Sweetened soft drinks increase body weight, which increases blood pressure and the risk of diabetes. Fruit juices are a healthier alternative, but fruit juices still have calories. Drink it in moderation or you will gain weight."