Water is important for everyone.
It fights fluid and electrolyte imbalances – and unnecessary water loss – after an active or strenuous lifestyle by drinking more water.
And if you failed to replenish yourself by getting hydrated regularly, you are prone to suffer from acute kidney injury or known as acute renal failure – an abrupt loss of kidney function that develops within one week and where there are several etiologic factors or causes of its development.
Adult nephrology specialist Maria Theresa Bad-Ang, M.D. said in acute kidney injury, the creatinine level in the blood will increase temporarily. However, she said if not corrected immediately, it will become chronic kidney injury or chronic renal failure.
Dr. Bad-Ang said it may happen not only to athletes, but also to people exposed to strenuous exercises and those who do not get proper hydration.
“Actually, drink water if you feel thirsty because that is your body’s way to signal that you are dehydrated,” she said.
Interestingly, water is all over our bodies. Ninety percent is in the brain, 83 percent is in the blood, 22 percent is in the bones and 22 percent is in our muscles.
Therefore – instead of drinking sweet and alcoholic beverages –
we should rather choose water above everything else.
Medical doctors usually recommend to their patients to drink eight ounces of water everyday. There’s a study that states drinking water before anything else can help flush the bowels by giving you the urge to move your bowels and this will make your digestive tract healthy.
The following are some tips for you to reap the benefits of drinking water:
* Drink water before you feel thirsty.
* Eat more food that contains more water such as watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches, oranges, skim milk, cucumber, lettuce, broths and soups, zucchini, celery, plain yogurt, tomatoes, bell peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, grape fruit, coconut water, and cottage cheese.
* Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk or in your purse or bag.
Ana Williams is the health columnist for The Graham Star.