H2O

On to this weeks tip... I have been preaching about the benefits of water briefly throughout this fitness journal. Everyone knows it's good for burning fat - but why? What other reasons do you need to know that water has to be a part of your daily nutritional lifestyle? And no - juice, soda, alcohol and coffee/tea do not count as water! I see a lot of people counting those drinks as part of their daily intake of water, but what they really do is increase your sugar (and calorie) consumption and DEHYDRATE you. And to be clear, dehydration does the opposite of what water does, which is hydrate your body. Keep in mind that your body is made up of 80% water and most of the Canadian population is severely dehydrating themselves due to their westernized way of living. So, beyond the obvious reasons, why should you be drinking water? Here's why:
1. Water is essential for proper digestion, nutrient absorption and chemical reactions. The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream. No less important is the ability of water to transport waste material out of our bodies.
2. Water is the substance of life. Life can not exist without water. We must constantly be adding fresh water to our body in order to keep it properly hydrated. Water can be a miracle cure for many common ailments such as headaches, fatigue, joint pain, and much more. We can go for weeks without food, but only 3 days without water!
3. Water is essential for proper circulation in the body. The levels of oxygen in the bloodstream are greater when the body is well-hydrated. The more oxygen the body has readily available, the more fat it will burn to use for energy. Without the presence of oxygen, the body cannot properly use your body's stored fat for energy. Not only will the body burn more fat when well-hydrated but because there are increased oxygen levels you will also have more energy.
4. Water helps remove toxins from the body, in particular from the digestive tract. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat . Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.
5. Dehydration can occur at any time of the year, not only during the summer months when it is hot. The dryness that occurs during winter can dehydrate the body even quicker than when it is hot. When you are dehydrated you tend to eat more. The rule of thumb when drinking water is to drink your own bodyweight divided by 2 in ounces.

For example, my bodyweight is 180 pounds so my daily intake of water should be at least 90 oz. What is your daily intake? Have you been drinking enough water? If not make the changes now. A good way to drink more water is to just replace all of your juices and sodas with H2O.

Dan Go
Go Fitness. Toronto