Why Should You Drink Eight Glasses Of Water A Day?

Water contributes approximately 60 percent of an average adult's body weight. Every one of your body systems relies on the presence of water in your body. Normal body processes, such as breathing, urination and metabolism, eliminate small amounts of water from your body every day. Drinking eight glasses of water per day can ensure that you adequately replace the water that is lost so that your body can function normally.

Body Temperature

Drinking an adequate amount of water is essential to helping your body maintain the right body temperature. When your internal temperature rises, the water in your blood absorbs heat and carries it until it can be released from your body as perspiration. The release of water helps return the temperature of your internal core to normal. If you do not consume enough water, your ability to sweat decreases. This can lead to dangerous increases in body temperature, especially during intense exercise.

Lubrication

Water helps lubricate your joints and eyes and makes up a large percentage of your saliva. The mucus lining in your intestinal tract also contains a large percentage of water. If you do not regularly replenish the water in your body, it can cause your eyes to become dry and decrease your tear production. Not consuming enough water can also prevent you from making enough saliva, leading to dry mouth and make it difficult to chew and swallow food.

Transportation

Water makes up most of your blood volume. The water in your blood serves as a transport mechanism to carry oxygen and other nutrients to your cells and remove carbon dioxide and waste products from them. Water also acts as a universal solvent, allowing substances to dissolve so that chemical reactions can take place. If you do not consume eight glasses of water daily, nutrients may not be delivered properly and chemical reactions may be interrupted.

Toxin Removal

Drinking eight glasses of water per day can also help flush toxins out of your body. You are exposed to numerous toxins every day. Toxins enter your body through the air you breathe and the food you eat. These toxins circulate throughout your body in your bloodstream. Drinking adequate amounts of water triggers the kidneys to create urine. To create urine, the kidneys remove excess water, as well as toxins, from the bloodstream. The more water you drink, the more urine you produce. Continuously producing urine throughout the day can help ensure that your kidneys are able to remove toxins.