Our path is our way

Our path is our way

Baking soda is having a moment-a weird thing to say about something that’s been a pantry essential for literally decades.
These days, the touted health benefits of baking soda go far beyond airy cakes and flaky biscuits (as if those weren’t enough), and the internet is filled with claims that the unassuming white powder can do everything from settling your stomach to whitening your teeth.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of the information out there is bogus and totally not legit. You should never use baking soda as sunscreen (duh!). But, baking soda does pack a few cool health benefits when used correctly-which often means buying FDA-approved products with baking soda as an active ingredient-so two experts weighed in to help separate fact from fiction.

1. It can help take the 'burn' out of heartburn.
“Drinking a mixture of baking soda and water has been used as [a heartburn] home remedy for decades,” says Allison Dostal Webster, Ph.D., R.D., the associate director of nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council .
Basically, your stomach acid, is, well, acidic (with a pH less than seven, says Webster), while baking soda is basic (with a pH higher than seven). When your stomach acid is going haywire (say, traveling up into your esophagus and giving you heartburn), baking soda can effectively "neutralize" that acid, Webster says. That neutral substance won’t cause discomfort if it travels back up into your esophagus.

That said, Webster warns that the home remedy carries risks. “There are many case reports of people over-consuming baking soda, which upsets our body’s acid-base balance and can lead to serious cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological effects," says Webster.
So if you get acid reflux on the reg, you shouldn't just keep chugging baking soda and water. Talk to your doctor and consider options like over-the-counter or prescription medications, Webster says.

2. It can nix 'keto breath' and reduce your risk of cavities.
“Baking soda has been studied for its benefits to oral hygiene,” says Webster. “Its antimicrobial properties can help fight bacteria that cause bad breath, and reduce risk for cavities. That’s why you can commonly find it in certain types of toothpastes.”

3. It’ll give you pearly whites.
Another tooth-related benefit of baking soda: A 2017 meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Dental Association states that several studies found teeth-whitening treatments containing baking soda were more effective than those without it.
If you don't want to shell out for a teeth-whitening kit (which, I don't blame you), you can try making a paste out of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and brushing it on your teeth. Just don't use it every day, since both of those ingredients can be harsh when overused. Use it for three days, then use it again in six months to maintain results.

4. It can clean and exfoliate skin (but there's a catch).
Basically every natural beauty blog has some kind of post about using baking soda as a natural cleanser. And there's some truth to that, says Joshua Zeichner , M.D., the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “[Baking soda] can absorb oil and helps exfoliate dead cells from the surface of the skin, making it a useful ingredient in DIY scrubs and masks," he says.

However, he says that it can cause serious irritation if overused, especially if you have sensitive skin. "The only people I would recommend it for are those with extremely oily skin, and people who rarely develop skin irritation," he says.

If you don't want to use straight baking soda on your face (which is probs for the best), try a cleanser that is formulated with baking soda instead to minimize the risk of irritation (like Bioré's Baking Soda Pore Cleanser ). If you have sensitive skin, Zeichner says, skip the baking soda and use traditional exfoliators with ingredients like alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids like glycolic acid or salicylic acid.

5. It absorbs excess sweat.
“Because of its absorbent nature, baking soda may also be used as an ingredient in a homemade deodorant,” says Zeichner. If you want to get your hands dirty, you can mix some with water until it turns into a paste, and apply to your underarms. If that doesn't sound appealing, you can find baking soda as a main ingredient in lots of natural deodorants, too.

However, Zeichner says that just like it can irritate the skin on your face, it can also irritate the skin under your arms. And, it won’t combat odors as well as store-bought deodorants. So keep that in mind.

6. It may help zap zits.
“Baking soda’s ability to absorb oil explains reports of treating acne,” says Zeichner. Dabbing a bit onto spots may help dry them up in the short-term, he adds, but won’t really lead to lasting healing.

And, while some people report that baking soda has helped fade scars, it’s not exactly a magic bullet. “The only way I could imagine baking soda being useful in brightening dark spots or improving the appearance of scars is through its exfoliating properties,” says Zeichner. So, sure, you can give it a try, but any form of exfoliation will likely have a similar effect-with less risk of skin irritation.

Pulse Ghana

High blood pressure is a frightening disease because it has few symptoms yet puts people at great risk of heart disease or stroke.
High blood pressure is quite manageable with diet and lifestyle changes.

Sugar and Salt are some other things that should be avoided.
Sorry, but these two tasty food enhancers are major factors in hypertension.

In general, a healthy person should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. When it comes to sugar, the main concern is avoiding “added” sugar. Our bodies need sugar to function properly, but most of it should come from sources like whole fruit rather than candy or even juice.


Also to be avoided are high sodium foods. Canned vegetables, especially beans, are high in sodium because it is used to extend shelf life.

Beans that you buy dry and then soak and cook are actually a very healthy meal choice due to their protein, fiber, and anti-inflammatory nutrients.

Adding beans to your meal can help keep your blood sugar steady, too. If you must eat canned beans, you can remove up to 41% of the sodium content by rinsing them in a colander before preparing.

Packaged and processed meats are also to be avoided. Packaged meats including hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and lunch meat also rely on sodium to preserve the product for a long time.

So not only are you getting food loaded with salt and preservatives, you are sacrificing the health benefits of eating fresh food.


Red meat is considered more dangerous to health than white meat, but even packaged chicken and turkey have too much sodium.

Instead, buy your meat straight from a butcher to get a fresh product that hasn’t been soaked in a giant vat of saltwater.
To get your hypertension under control, or simply to live a healthier life, train your taste buds to find satiety in the natural sugars contained in whole fruit.

Bananas are an especially good choice because of their potassium content – potassium helps to regulate blood pressure. When you really need a splurge, opt for one small piece of dark chocolate to keep the added sugars down.

As for soft drinks, just one soda per day can push you over your daily recommended limit of added sugars, yet because you drink rather than eat them, they don’t make you feel full or satisfied.

It is better to get your caffeine from lightly sweetened tea or coffee. If it’s simply refreshment you crave, try some sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice or a sprig of mint.

Under pastries, cookies, cakes, donuts, and other baked goodies can certainly be a hard habit to break, but they are simply loaded with sugar and fat.

However, you may still be able to enjoy pastries in moderation.
There is very little health value in alcohol in general, but it can be especially bad for people with high blood pressure. First, alcohol may be high in sugar itself or mixed with sugary beverages.

Second, drinking too much causes dehydration and is linked to weight gain, both of which are risk factors for hypertension. And finally, drinking more than three alcoholic beverages in a sitting will spike your blood pressure on the spot.


The bad news is that reducing the amount of sugar and salt in your diet will require some extra effort.

Preparing meals fresh at home is the best way to control your intake, but you can still use some packaged products as long as you get good at reading labels.

It will take some time to retrain your taste buds, but after awhile, you will start to gain an appreciation of the nuanced flavours in foods that aren’t dominated by sugar and salt.

That’s the good news – not only will your hypertension be kept in  check, you will likely soon find that you don’t even miss foods with unhealthy levels of sugar and salt.

Healthy Living 

It is very common to get injuries that result in bleeding during food preparation.

It’s very important to treat the cut immediately to avoid contaminating the food.

Luckily, there are simple ingredients in the kitchen can help your blood coagulate and stop bleeding more quickly.

Ice
Bleeding from most injuries can be stopped by applying direct pressure to the injury. Wrap ice in clean, dry cloth and place it on the wound. It allows the clot to form more quickly and stop the bleeding.


Tea
Tea bags are a popular kitchen ingredient to treat minor kitchen cuts. Place a steeped black tea bag that has been allowed to cool in the fridge on the wound.

It contains tannins, which are hemostatic, meaning they cause the blood to clot.

Tannins contain astringent, which causes blood vessels to constrict. It is also a kind of antiseptic that kills bacteria and helps the site stay free of infection.

White Vinegar
White vinegar has great astringent properties which work incredibly well to stop bleeding. Dip a cotton ball in some white vinegar and apply it on the open wound and wait for the magic.

Cornstarch
Due to its drying properties, cornstarch aids and speeds up the clotting process. Just sprinkle a little bit of cornstarch on the bleeding wound. Once the blood has dried up, wash off the starch with water.


Other products that you can use to stop bleeding.

Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly is best used to halt the bleeding from shallow cuts. Wipe the skin dry beforehand and clean the wound to remove any remaining jelly after the bleeding has stopped.

Antiperspirant
As well as shrinking sweat glands, the aluminum chloride in antiperspirant may also constrict blood vessels to help a wound clot.

In a 2015 study, aluminum chloride was shown to be a fast and effective way to control minor external bleeding.

Pulse Ghana

Castor oil is a vegetable oil that is found by extracting oil from the seeds of ruccini communis. Castor oil can be identified with being colorless or sometimes with a pale yellow color. You may also find that castor oil has a distinct smell and a taste too. The oil originates from Africa and India. Castor oil has been known to be a solution to many problems and so it is a widely used ingredient. In many parts of the world, it is used for medicinal purposes and also used in beauty products. There are many benefits of castor oil that we are going to outline in this article.

Castor oil benefits outweighs it's disadvantages. Today, castor oil is used to relieve constipation and sunburns too. Castor oil has also been widely used for beauty purposes, especially on hair products. Keep scrolling and learn.

Health benefits of castor oil

1. Improves the healing of wounds
One of the uses for castor oil is to help in healing wounds. When castor oil is applied on a wound, it tends to improve the moisture on the wound and hence the dryness of the wound is reduced. When a wound is dry there will be high chances or cornification, which is the forming up of dry dead cells that really slow down the healing process of a wound. Applying castor oil will avoid cornification from taking place on your wound and hence the healing process will be fastened.

Castor oil also improves the healing of wounds by improving immunity. This oil boosts the immunity by increasing the level of white blood cells which help in fighting infections. You do not have to view countless Youtube videos to learn how to use castor oil on your wound, just apply it well on your wound, you can use a clean finger or clean cotton wool.

2. Reduces inflammation
Castor oil has ricinoleic acid which is the main form of fatty acid in the oil. This acid is known to possess incredible anti-inflammatory properties. Ricinoleic acid helps in reducing inflammation or swelling which causes a lot of pain, especially on the joints. Having a bottle of castor oil on your medicine cabinet could save you a great deal in soothing your joints.

This is one of the top known castor oil health benefits that comes with dual advantages. One is that it will help reduce inflammation and two is that it will reduce skin dryness and skin irritation when applied topically.

3. An efficient laxative

Constipation can be a very irritating experience to anyone. To minimize the cases of constipation, many people are likely to use laxatives which have powerful effects on the digestive system.

They help in loosening the body’s stools, and hence improve bowel movements. Most laxatives are used as a way of preventing or getting rid of constipation. You can find them over the counter or you can opt to use natural ones.
Laxatives are identified with the way they work. Castor oil is one of the natural laxative that many people have been using for centuries. Castor oil is categorized as a stimulant laxative. This is because when this oil is consumed orally, it stimulates the production of a specific receptor that speeds up the movement of the digestive system.
The main fatty acid known as recinoleic acid is the name of the acid that stimulates the production of that receptor. You should however note that this oil cannot be used regularly but instead it is supposed to be used only occasionally when there is need to use it.


4. Minimizes acne
This is the best castor oil for skin remedy that is needed by thousands of people. Acne has proved to be headache to most young adults. Acne is associated with the appearance of blackheads, sometimes pus-filled pimples. Other times acne can be identified as large and painful facial and body bumps. Acne is so difficult to get rid off because at times it is thought to be genetic.
However, the are times that acne seem be caused by inflammation of pimples. In such cases, the use of an anti-inflammatory product would help. Castor oil can be used as the anti-inflammatory product for reducing acne.
Acne can be made worse if bacteria comes into contact with the affected areas. In this case, using castor oil can help in a great way. This is because castor oil has an antibacterial properties that can fight off any harmful bacteria around the affected area.


5. Assists in fighting fungus

Castor oil uses and benefits are far too wide, castor oil also helps to fight fungus in the body. The undecylenic acid and recinoleic acid in castor oil are the major ingredient that will help fight off any fungus. For instance if you candida albicans, the fungus that causes dental problems such as plaque and root canal problems castor oil can help clear out the fungus. Try using a little of the oil in your brushing water and you will surely notice some change.

Toe nails are also sometimes infected by fungus. Unfortunately, when your fingers are infected, they may become thickened and discolored. This may cause lose of confidence and many people to really hide their toes but castor oil can help you with this.

6. Improves immunity
Castor oil helps in adding of the white blood cells, the agents that  help the body fight against disease causing organisms. Castor oil also improves the blood flow and blood flow and immunity really go hand in hand. When blood circulation is at it’s best, it means that also the white blood cells are circulated to the whole body therefore strengthening the body’s immunity.
It also increases the levels of lymphocytes in the body. Lymphocytes are the natural disease fighting components of the body.


7. Clearing away stretch marks

The good contents in castor oil are a good way to moisturize the skin. Castor oil has so many rich contents that help in clearing away stretch marks.

8. Heal dry and cracked heels
Dry and cracked heels make a lot of people loose confidence for their feet. Such a feet simply gives the impression that the feet are not moisturized. One way of getting rid off cracked heels is making sure that you moisturize them regularly. The power of castor oil to perfectly moisturize the skin is the reason why you should use the oil to moisturize the dry and cracked heel.


9. Lengthening and strengthening eyelashes

Most women love to have their eyelashes long and strong which makes them feel and look beautiful. Many have even opted to go for artificial ones in beauty shops.
Castor oil has vitamin E proteins and is also rich in minerals. This are the components that will help in strengthening and growing of eyelashes. Castor oil penetrates into the skin and promotes eyelash growth on your eyes. Castor oil for skin is very safe and efficient to multiple skin issues.


10. Getting rid off skin moles and tags
Skin tags and moles can really lower your self esteem if you would really like a petal soft skin. Clearing skin tags is not that hard but it will require patience for you to achieve a skin free from the moles and the tags.

You will need to mix the castor oil and baking soda and make a smooth paste. Apply the paste on the affected area and cover it with a bandage. Do this daily for 4-6 weeks and you will see changes.

Castor oil has been used for quite a long time and it is now evident that for thousands of years, people have really benefited from this oil. Castor oil should not be used in extreme doses, this is because castor oil side effects can be prove to be fatal.


Disclaimer
The article above is meant for general information only, it is not supposed to take the place of any medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. Every information given including the text or images are for the general information only.

Tuko News 

Our path is our way
Caringpush photo

The body requires nutrients from healthy foods to heal wounds quickly after surgery.

Eating the right foods can help the body to heal fast and also minimize digestive upset caused by antibiotics and prevent constipation caused by pain meds. If you have an upcoming surgery or you are recuperating, add these foods to your diet.

1. Beans
It’s true. All the tasty waakye can be found near big gutters. Beans are one of the best sources of protein. People who are recuperating can add it their diet to recovery quickly.

2. Eggs
Can you believe some people add eggs to their bowl of fufu and goat light soup? You can add eggs to local and continental dishes to fast track the healing process.
Eggs offer an easy, effective way to build foods high in protein for wound healing into your diet. While eggs are a good source of protein, egg yolks are high in cholesterol, so moderate your intake if you have heart-related health issues.

3. Chicken
Chicken is one of the healthiest meat proteins that can be used in  soups, stews or prepared as its own dish. Buy some boneless chicken breasts, roast them in the oven, and you have an easy high-protein meal.

4. Milk
Drinking milk is a healthy way to bounce back after surgery. If you have lactose intolerance or simply do not like cow’s milk, you have some protein-rich alternatives to choose from: Soy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk are all high in protein. You can make a habit of having some cereal each morning or trying to drink a glass several times throughout the day.

5. Nuts
Nuts are an excellent source of protein. Peanuts, cashews, and almonds all have high amounts of protein. You can snack on these throughout the day to enhance the wound-healing process.


Pulse Ghana 

When you think of protein, fruit doesn't usually come to mind.
"The best sources of protein include chicken, fish, seafood, turkey, tofu, Greek yogurt, beans, lentils, cottage cheese, and eggs," says Melissa Majumdar, MS, RD, senior bariatric dietician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"Other foods that are good sources of protein include nuts and seeds, nut butter, cheese and milk, and green peas and edamame."

Not a single fruit makes the list, and that's because it simply doesn't meet the requirements.

"To be considered a good source of protein, one serving should have over 6 grams of protein," says Majumdar. "Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will offer a few grams of protein each, but they are often not complete sources of protein and provide us with more macronutrients (fat, carbohdyrates) than protein." Unless you're eating pounds of it, fruit comes in well below that amount per serving.

Fruit does provide some protein, but it won't make a huge dent. Mostly, what you're getting is carbs, says Majumdar: "On average, fruit provides about 15 grams of total carbohydrates from natural sources of sugar like fructose and glucose and fiber in a 1/2 cup serving." These carbohydrates help fuel your body and aid in protein synthesis. "Foods that provide carbohydrates, like many fruits, give us energy and fiber that allows our body to spare the protein for muscle growth, repair, and formation," says Majumdar.

Still, if you can get a little bonus protein from your fruit on top of carbs, that can't hurt, right? Keep reading to find out six fruits that contain relatively high amounts of protein, as well as the other benefits they offer.

1) Jackfruit.

Protein : 1.42 grams/ 1/2 cup serving
This trendy fruit has made headlines recently as a popular meat substitute. "Jackfruit is high in vitamin B6, a nutrient required for the metabolism of protein," says Majumdar.

2) Prunes.

Protein: 95 grams per 1/4 cup serving
These bad boys have a decent amount of protein per serving. But as you know, they're better known for their fiber content. So you should definitely be careful with them when it comes to serving size and your digestive system. Unless you're constipated, overdoing it on the prunes could potentially send you running to the bathroom all day.

3) Dried cherries.

Protein : 1.00 grams per 1/4 cup serving
A 2018 review of the nutritional value of cherries found that they are all-stars at reducing inflammation and arthritis, as well as improving quality of sleep. Plus, tart cherry juice has also been found to be an excellent relief aid for sore muscles. For an added protein punch, use fresh or dried cherries for this delicious duck recipe.

4) Guava.

Protein: 2.11 grams per 1/2 cup serving For fresh fruit, guava has the upper hand on protein content. It also has been found to be an excellent source of fiber and has loads of antioxidants. "Use guava to sweeten a smoothie alongside another source of protein, like protein powder, Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese," says Majumdar.

5) Apricots

Protein : 1.1 gram per 1/4 cup
The pitted fruit is super high in potassium and vitamin A from carotenoids, which also give carrots their orange color. Apricots are also a great source of vitamin C. Try this Apricot Glaze Chicken for a sweet and savory treat.

6) Golden raisins.

Protein : 1.35 grams per 1/2 cup (packed)
"Raisins are a good vegetarian source of iron and provide fiber and potassium," says Majumdar. They've also been found to help stave off junk food cravings. Use raisins to sweeten cereal instead of buying cereal high in sugar, or to top off peanut butter on celery or toast.

Pulse News

Our path is our way

It is not rocket science, but the benefits of drinking water are numerous. Nowadays, it is common to find people carrying bottled water wherever they go. While you may not feel like drinking eight glasses of water a day, there are many reasons why you should. Drinking water, either plain or in the form of other foods and fluids, is essential to maintaining a good health.

The body loses fluids continuously from breathing, skin evaporation, stool, and urine. For good health, it is important to replace these fluids regularly. Your daily water intake must be equal to fluid output to ensure that your body is hydrated. Otherwise, dehydration will occur, and this can cause constipation and low energy levels. You also need plenty of water to avoid factors that contribute to frequent chest burns and chronic stomach conditions.

Drinking plenty of water is very important in high altitudes, warmer climates, during extreme workouts, especially by the elderly whose thirst for water tends to be low. Also, you need it to achieve a flawless and radiant skin.

In this article, you will learn more about the nutrients in water and understand the health benefits of drinking water.


Nutrients in water

Water is a vital nutrient on its own. It helps every cell in the body to function correctly. On average, human beings receive about 20% of fluid through the foods they eat and the remaining 80% from drinking water and other beverages.
Note that you can place water into two categories: soft and hard water. Soft water is water that has a low concentration of magnesium and calcium ions but high in ions of sodium. Rainwater is soft water. Hard water is water that is rich in dissolved minerals like magnesium and calcium. Because hard water has many essential minerals, it is the best water for drinking and has some flavour. Soft water is not suitable for drinking.


Below are some of the nutrients found in water.

Calcium
Calcium is an essential nutrient in water as it is necessary for bone growth and health, and for protection from decalcification. Insufficient supply of calcium in the body for a prolonged period can cause constant joint pains and osteoporosis. If you have brittle nails, eczemas, migraines and headaches, it could be a sign of low calcium levels in your body.
Enough calcium in water can help to reduce stress, muscle excitability, fatigue and support immunity. You should drink water from the main supply since it is the best source of calcium.

Magnesium
Just like calcium, magnesium is an essential nutrient in water that helps to maintain teeth and bone health. The body needs magnesium for metabolism, transport and absorption of calcium.

People who exercise a lot need to drink plenty of hard water due to the significant loss of magnesium through perspiration and urination. The magnesium content in hard water helps to boost exercise performance.
Insufficient magnesium levels in the body can cause endothelial dysfunction, decreased insulin sensitivity and increased vascular reactions. Furthermore, this can cause coronary heart disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus.


Copper
Copper in water is responsible for the catalytic and structural properties of many enzymes essential for normal body functions. It is also a crucial nutrient in iron utilization, cardiovascular health and antioxidant purposes. Infants need it for growth, bone strength, brain development and maturation of red and white cells.
Copper deficiency can cause impaired growth, altered immunity, neutropenia, bone abnormalities such as fractures and osteoporosis and anaemia.

Zinc
Zinc plays the role of structuring the integrity of membranes and proteins. The body needs it for normal development, growth, DNA synthesis, sensory function and immunity.
Zinc deficiency can cause delayed skeletal and sexual maturation, growth retardation, reduced resistance to infections, impaired taste, anorexia, delayed healing of wounds, alopecia, and skin lesions.


Iron
Iron is an essential nutrient as it participates in many processes vital for body functions. It is involved in the metabolism of neurotransmitters, DNA synthesis, oxygen transport, and oxidative phosphorylation. Iron deficiency can cause anaemia, altered behaviour, and impaired motor and mental development.
Note that most of these nutrients occur naturally. They find themselves in water through the contact of water with soil and rocks. Rainwater does not have most of these nutrients and minerals because it does not come into contact with rocks and soil.

Health benefits of drinking water


All organs and cells of the body require plenty of water to function well. You should drink at least eight glasses of water to stay healthy. Although there is no agreed quantity of drinking water you must consume, staying hydrated throughout the day is necessary. But what does water do for the body?

1. Balances the body temperature
The human body is about 60% water. Water helps to regulate and maintain body temperature. During the summer, people experience frequent perspiration which alleviates increased body temperature. In this regard, drinking plenty of water is essential to maintaining the right energy levels.

2. Energizes muscles
Body cells that fail to maintain the proper balance of electrolytes and fluids shrink resulting in muscle fatigue. Muscle cells require enough fluids to work and perform well, and this is very important when working out.

It is vital that you drink enough water before and during any physical activity. You should drink about 17 ounces of water two hours before an exercise. When working out, drink water early and ensure you do it at regular intervals so that you can replace the fluids you lose through sweating.

3. Balances body fluids
Body fluids play different roles including digestion, circulation, absorption, nutrient transportation, maintenance of body temperature, and saliva creation. When the body is low on fluids, it forces the brain to trigger thirst mechanism. These cues are important to listen to because the body needs water to balance fluids and ensure their proper functioning.
In this case, consider taking some coffee, milk, juice, and most importantly water. Avoid alcohol as it interferes with the communication between the kidney and the brain. Alcohol also causes the body to excrete fluids which can lead to dehydration.


4. Boosts metabolism
Water helps to boost metabolism which results in several health benefits like weight loss. Furthermore, water carries nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to all body organs. When you drink water, it will remove toxins, dead cells, and waste material through urination and sweating.
Other components such as enzymes and proteins require adequate water to function well too. These combined factors contribute to an increased rate of metabolism. If you are looking to increase the rate of metabolism, then you should drink cold water. Why? Well, when you drink cold water, the body increases the metabolic rate in order to heat the cold water to normal body temperature.

5. Improves brain function
Hydration has many effects on brain function and energy levels in the body. Your body hydration status strongly influences your brain. Dehydration could impair several aspects of your brain function.

For example, dehydration could impair your concentration, mood and cause headaches. Fluid loss is also a cause of increased feelings of fatigue and anxiety as well as destabilizing a working memory.

6. Treats and prevents headaches

Dehydration triggers migraines and headaches in some individuals. In some cases, drinking plenty of water could relieve the symptom if the body is dehydrated. However, this factor alone depends on your type of headache.

Note that water does not have any effect on the frequency with which a person experiences headaches. But it can reduce the duration and the intensity.

7. Treats kidney stones
Kidney stones are a collection of minerals and salt usually made up of uric acid or calcium. They build up inside the kidneys and travel to the urinary tract/system. They are small in size and painful. Some are smaller than an inch, and others develop to a few inches. In some cases, they become large enough and occupy the whole kidney.
Limited evidence shows that drinking enough water can help prevent the recurrence of urinary stones in people who have previously experienced the condition.
Higher intake of fluids increases the amount of urine passing through your kidneys. At this point, the kidneys dilute the mineral concentration. As the importance of drinking water, the dilution will not crystallize the minerals and will not develop into clumps.


8. Relieves constipation
People experience constipation from time to time. It is a common problem which is the difficulty in passing excretory products and periodic bowel movements. Inadequate water consumption increases the risk of constipation in both the elderly and the young.
Increasing water intake is the best and fastest solution to relieve and treat constipation. You can also have relief by drinking carbonated water, although scientists are yet to determine how this happens.

9. Prevents hangovers
A hangover is an unpleasant symptom a person experiences after heavy drinking of alcohol. It varies from one person to the other, although it often involves dehydration, nausea, headache, and tiredness.
The main cause of hangovers is ethanol. As a diuretic liquid, alcohol makes people lose a lot of water from their body, leading to dehydration. Note that dehydration does not always cause a hangover. However, it can cause several discomforts such as fatigue, thirst, dry mouth, and headache.

An effective way of reducing a hangover is to drink plenty of water. But how much water per day should you drink? According to Healthline, you should drink a glass of water between alcoholic drinks. After taking alcohol, ensure you drink at least two glasses of water before bedtime.

10. Prevents osteoporosis
Diseases of the bone such as rickets, osteoporosis, and other fractures are bad for health. You must take precautions to avoid them and maintain your well-being. Drinking plenty of water helps to facilitate the growth of enzymes.
These enzymes help to prevent hip fractures and facilitate bone density. Studies also show one of the many pros of drinking water is it helps to reduce the risks of osteoporosis. The condition manifests itself through structural deterioration of the bone tissue and low bone mass. Since the body is about 60% water, it means that every organ needs enough water to function correctly.

That also means dehydration or the loss of even 1-5 per cent of body fluids can trigger some biochemical changes related to how the body responds to stress. In turn, this will produce cortisol (the stress hormone) and accelerate bone loss.

11. Helps with weight loss

One of the many questions weight loss enthusiasts ask is can you drink too much water and lose weight? Well, drinking lots of water can help a person lose weight. Water helps to boost the body’s metabolic rate and increase satiety.

Drinking water every day can increase your metabolism by 30% for over one hour. If you drink cold water, the effect is slightly increased as your body will use energy to heat up to the normal body temperature. However, cold water shouldn't be relied upon as your sole weight loss strategy. This is not only because it takes a long time for the outcome to be realised, but also because drinking too much cold water can have negative effects to the body.
But this also depends on your timing. Drinking water at least an hour before eating is more effective. You will feel full and eat less food which means you will take in fewer calories.

12. Improves digestion
Proper digestion is essential to maintaining a healthy body. Poor digestion can cause diarrhoea or constipation. The best way of treating indigestion is to drink plenty of water. The water will help to maintain proper bowel movement and prevent health problems like stomach ulcers. If you experience stomach burning or inflammation, you should drink water because such a condition occurs as a result of eating processed foods in excess.

In essence, water benefits for body are many. Always remember that what you put in your body has an impact on both your short-term and long-term health. The body needs water to maintain the complexion of the skin, deliver oxygen to the organs and flush out toxins. If you are an athlete, you should drink more water to beat tiredness and increase your athletic performance.
The benefits of drinking water for nursing mothers are also many. Nursing mothers should drink at least eight glasses of water daily to prevent haemorrhoids, which can cause in both the baby and the mother, constipation and bladder infections.

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