Dad decided to remarry, and the arrival of the stepmother seems to be the product of a business transaction, and Dad uses her dowry to consolidate the family's financial situation. Although the addition of the stepmother did not bring the expected warmth and love, she tried her best to find her place in this new environment.
One day I had a cold and fever, and my condition was getting worse and worse. Faced with the child's condition, the stepmother did not choose to send him to the hospital immediately, but followed his father's advice to let him drink more water.
As time passed, Xiao Ming's condition did not improve, but became more and more serious. By the fourth day, he was dizzy, had a sore throat, and was in a worrying condition. Just then, my grandmother suddenly burst into the house and angrily accused my stepmother of her lack of humanity and made my condition worsen to this point.
1. The importance of water
Approximately 60%-70% of the body is made up of water, and this proportion varies depending on individual differences, age, sex, and constitution. Water plays a vital role in the body, distributed in intracellular fluids, extracellular fluids, and blood, and is extremely important for maintaining cell function, nutrient delivery, and blood circulation. Water not only helps regulate body temperature and keeps the body from excessive heat or cold, but it is also involved in metabolic processes and the proper functioning of the digestive system. By lubricating food, promoting the breakdown of food and the absorption of nutrients, water plays a central role in health maintenance.
For adults, it is generally recommended to consume about 2 litres of water per day, but this specific need can vary depending on the climate, the amount of activity the individual and the circumstances in which they live. For example, during hot weather or during strenuous exercise, the body loses more water due to the acceleration of sweat and breathing, and it is necessary to increase your intake to replace the lost water. Children's water requirements are directly proportional to their body weight, and special attention needs to be paid to adjusting their water intake to meet their growing and developing water needs. Pregnant and lactating women, on the other hand, may need to consume more water to meet their body's needs due to increased physiological needs.
The loss of water is mainly carried out through urine, sweat, respiration, and poop. Water loss is more significant in certain situations, such as working in hot environments, actively participating in physical activity, or when the body is in a state of illness (e.g., fever, diarrhea, vomiting), which requires increased water intake to prevent dehydration. Dehydration not only affects physical health, but also reduces work efficiency and reduces the body's resistance to disease.
Maintaining a proper water balance is essential for maintaining good health and proper function. Moderate water intake not only helps maintain body temperature and metabolic balance, but also promotes digestion and nutrient absorption, ensuring the smooth functioning of the body's systems. Therefore, understanding an individual's water needs and adjusting their water intake based on activity levels, climatic conditions, and health status is important to promote overall health and prevent multiple health problems.
2. Drinking more water to prevent diseases
Heart Health:Moderate water intake can help reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Water helps maintain proper blood dilution and electrolyte balance in the heart, reduces the burden on the heart, maintains a normal heartbeat, removes excess salts and wastes, maintains the elasticity of blood vessels, and reduces the risk of arteriosclerosis.
Stroke prevention:Drinking plenty of fluids can help thin your blood and reduce the risk of blood clots, which can reduce the likelihood of a stroke. Maintaining adequate water intake over the long term can maintain vascular health and reduce damage to arterial walls.
Prevention of kidney stones: Adequate water intake can help dilute high uric acid and high calcium in the urine and reduce the formation of kidney stones. By increasing the production and excretion of urine, it helps to maintain the concentration of uric acid and calcium in the urine by reducing the concentration of uric acid and urine.
Prevention of urinary tract infections:Drinking plenty of water can help flush the urethra, reduce bacterial accumulation, and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. Adequate water intake also helps maintain a moist state of the urethral mucosa, reducing the likelihood of inflammation and infection.
Prevention of constipation:Water is a key element in the digestion process, helping to lubricate food through the intestines. Drinking plenty of water can help keep your stool moist, reduce the occurrence of constipation, and keep your gut healthy.
Prevention of bladder cancer:Adequate water intake can help increase urine excretion, flush harmful substances out of the bladder, and reduce the risk of bladder cancer. Studies have found that high water intake is associated with a lower prevalence of bladder cancer.
Prevention of bowel cancer:This helps to promote bowel movement, dilute stool, reduce intestinal irritation, and reduce the risk of bowel cancer. Adequate water intake also helps prevent constipation and intestinal discomfort, reducing the amount of time harmful substances stay in the colon.
3. How to increase water intake
Establishing a daily water intake goal is the first step in ensuring adequate water intake. Everyone's needs vary depending on individual differences, climate, activity level, and health status, so it's crucial to understand your needs and set goals. At the same time, setting up a reminder mechanism can also help maintain the habit of drinking water, such as using mobile apps, alarm clocks or sticky notes to remind yourself to drink water on time.
To increase your water intake, you can hydrate yourself through food in addition to drinking purified water. Fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumber, celery, and strawberries are rich in water. Clear soups, yogurt, and ice cream also contain a lot of water. Beverages such as tea, coffee, lemonade and more can also be used as water**, but be mindful of your caffeine and sugar intake and avoid overdoing it.
At the same time, care needs to be taken to avoid drinking too much water to prevent the risk of poisoning. Water poisoning can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and coma. 8 glasses of water per day is a reasonable goal, but individual needs vary. Physical cues, such as thirst and urine color, should be watched to determine the need for more water. If in doubt, you should seek the advice of a medical professional.
Drinking plenty of water is not only a simple way to live, but also an effective way to prevent many diseases. By understanding the importance of water, the diseases that can be prevented by drinking plenty of water, and how to increase our water intake, we can better protect our health. Together, let's drink plenty of water in our daily lives and make a positive contribution to our future health and well-being.