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Why does your body need water?
If the body has a lack of water it cannot easily dump toxins out of the liver, as it cannot do the process necessary to breakdown and eliminate the toxins. This lack of hydration can cause fatigue and irritability. The joints need a perfect balance of minerals to work properly. Lack of water causes an imbalance and a loss of minerals that should flow through the joints; this can cause inflammation, pain and arthritis. Cells in the skin need water and lack of it can cause dry skin, especially in the winter. Water reduces appetite and is a great aid in weight loss.
Digestion is simply placing water molecules between the molecules of food so it can be carried through the intestinal wall and used for energy and repair of the body. Without enough water the digestive system can't break apart the food properly for absorption and this can cause a toxic colon, digestive troubles and malnutrition. Also, fifty percent of all the waste products in the body are eliminated through the kidney and without proper hydration the kidney has a difficult time doing this function.
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How much water does a body need?
The normal water requirement for the body is ½ ounce for every pound of weight. If you weigh 140 pounds you need 70 ounces of water per day. If you are exercising or sweating then the amount should be increased by about ½ ounce per minute of sweating or exercise.
Water is the one thing that the body needs to have for every life-giving activity to happen. Make sure to keep your salt and potassium in, so the body can assimilate the water.
What if I drink coffee?
For years some people have said that only water is water and you do not get the hydration that you need from drinking juices, milk, tea, etc. I have found that, in fact, the liquid you get from juices, milk, tea and the like; do assist in the body functions, just as straight water.
But, it is true that caffeinated drinks dehydrate the body, not hydrate. Someone who drinks caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea, or energy drinks, should have two servings of water for every serving of the caffeinated drink they consume.
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