Medical practitioners, mothers, grandmothers, old wives all swear to the goodness of water. And by water, they mean pure natural plain drinking water, not fruit juices or carbonated drinks sold all over. Ironically, it costs more to buy bottled water outside than any other canned drink.
All living things need water. Besides air, water is the most important need. Without water, we will be dehydrated. We will get sick, our bodies and insides will dry up, and we will eventually die of thirst.
But in recent years, people have discovered that water has many other uses as well. It helps to cool us down, has healing properties, keeps people looking young, cleanses the toxins from our bodies and acts as a purifying agent for thorough cleaning of our body systems.
Ever since we were born, we have been told to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. But how much is eight glasses? Now there is a more specific volume – 1 to 1.5 litres of water per day, the capacity of a big Coca Cola (or Pepsi or Sprite or 7-Up, whatever, it is all the same) plastic bottle. Which means on the average, people can just survive on one big Coca Cola bottle of water per day.
But water does have healing properties. Afterall, when one is sick and no appetite to eat anything, doctors always advise to drink lots of water so as to cool down and heal the body. Being sick always makes one’s body and mouth very dry, so during that period of time, water really is a healing agent.
A couple of years back when I was undergoing treatment for vocal nodules problem triggered by the education profession, the specialist told me to take frequent sips of water to moisturize my throat and vocals.
She said it is not a matter of gurgling down glasses after glasses of water, but more on just sipping little drops of water and keeping the insides moisturized throughout the day. That is more effective than drinking three glasses at one shot.
This same advise was given by all the choral conductors and my voice teacher. I was always told to make sure I drink lots of water, and always have a bottle of water handy while singing so I can take sips as and when I feel my voice straining.
The period of time when I was doing that religiously, my voice quality really improved. Now that I am too lazy to bring out a bottle of water, my voice seems to be perpetually sore. I must start doing that again!
Water also helps people lose weight. Dieticians advise that when one is tempted to snack, drink water and keep the stomach bloated. Then the snacking urge will go once the stomach is full of water. So when a person stops snacking, he / she does not need to worry about escalating weight problems anymore!
Water helps keep skin soft and supple, which results in smoother and younger-looking skin. Lotions and potions work on the outside, but even the most expensive skin products one use will not be that effective if the body is not clean and healthy on the inside.
Water moisturizes the skin from the inside and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. This is tried and tested. When I used to drink more water, my skin was actually better. Now with an office job and drinking more tea and Milo than water, I find traces of premature ageing. I have to bring another bottle to the office to consume more water from now on.
It has also been said that drinking one or two glasses of water first thing in the morning when you wake up actually keeps one healthier and less prone to illness. Those people who have never ever gotten sick, or got sick only once in a blue moon, swear by this.
They say drink two glasses of water when you wake up, even before brushing your teeth (Ewwww!!!), as some bacteria lingering in your mouth that will be flushed down by the water actually benefits the body.
I do drink at least three glasses of water when I wake up, but only after I brush my teeth and wash my face. I have not tried drinking water before brushing my teeth, maybe that is why this does not work on me and I still get sick quite often?
But whatever it is, water is a rare commodity, not to be wasted. Water may be just a simple liquid but its functions are tremendous. So we should utilize water fully and wisely but not waste it unnecessarily, otherwise one of these days we may find ourselves lack of clean drinking water.
All living things need water. Besides air, water is the most important need. Without water, we will be dehydrated. We will get sick, our bodies and insides will dry up, and we will eventually die of thirst.
But in recent years, people have discovered that water has many other uses as well. It helps to cool us down, has healing properties, keeps people looking young, cleanses the toxins from our bodies and acts as a purifying agent for thorough cleaning of our body systems.
Ever since we were born, we have been told to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. But how much is eight glasses? Now there is a more specific volume – 1 to 1.5 litres of water per day, the capacity of a big Coca Cola (or Pepsi or Sprite or 7-Up, whatever, it is all the same) plastic bottle. Which means on the average, people can just survive on one big Coca Cola bottle of water per day.
But water does have healing properties. Afterall, when one is sick and no appetite to eat anything, doctors always advise to drink lots of water so as to cool down and heal the body. Being sick always makes one’s body and mouth very dry, so during that period of time, water really is a healing agent.
A couple of years back when I was undergoing treatment for vocal nodules problem triggered by the education profession, the specialist told me to take frequent sips of water to moisturize my throat and vocals.
She said it is not a matter of gurgling down glasses after glasses of water, but more on just sipping little drops of water and keeping the insides moisturized throughout the day. That is more effective than drinking three glasses at one shot.
This same advise was given by all the choral conductors and my voice teacher. I was always told to make sure I drink lots of water, and always have a bottle of water handy while singing so I can take sips as and when I feel my voice straining.
The period of time when I was doing that religiously, my voice quality really improved. Now that I am too lazy to bring out a bottle of water, my voice seems to be perpetually sore. I must start doing that again!
Water also helps people lose weight. Dieticians advise that when one is tempted to snack, drink water and keep the stomach bloated. Then the snacking urge will go once the stomach is full of water. So when a person stops snacking, he / she does not need to worry about escalating weight problems anymore!
Water helps keep skin soft and supple, which results in smoother and younger-looking skin. Lotions and potions work on the outside, but even the most expensive skin products one use will not be that effective if the body is not clean and healthy on the inside.
Water moisturizes the skin from the inside and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. This is tried and tested. When I used to drink more water, my skin was actually better. Now with an office job and drinking more tea and Milo than water, I find traces of premature ageing. I have to bring another bottle to the office to consume more water from now on.
It has also been said that drinking one or two glasses of water first thing in the morning when you wake up actually keeps one healthier and less prone to illness. Those people who have never ever gotten sick, or got sick only once in a blue moon, swear by this.
They say drink two glasses of water when you wake up, even before brushing your teeth (Ewwww!!!), as some bacteria lingering in your mouth that will be flushed down by the water actually benefits the body.
I do drink at least three glasses of water when I wake up, but only after I brush my teeth and wash my face. I have not tried drinking water before brushing my teeth, maybe that is why this does not work on me and I still get sick quite often?
But whatever it is, water is a rare commodity, not to be wasted. Water may be just a simple liquid but its functions are tremendous. So we should utilize water fully and wisely but not waste it unnecessarily, otherwise one of these days we may find ourselves lack of clean drinking water.
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