Schedule: Monday- Friday 5:45 am- 9:00 pm | Saturday 5:45 am- 2:00 pm.
Blog Layout
The Benefits of Drinking Water
Laurie • Aug 04, 2020
We know that we should be drinking eight glasses of water a day. Staying hydrated is especially important in the heat of summer. Our bodies are about 60% water, and if that percentage decreases even by 2%, it can make us feel dehydrated, and consequently, wear us out both physically and mentally.
So drinking water keeps us hydrated and feeling better. What else can it do?
- It can help with weight loss. Sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty. In addition to providing hydration, drinking a glass before each meal fills us up so that we may eat less.
- It keeps skin healthy. Creams and lotions may hydrate skin on the outside, but we also need to hydrate from the inside. Marie Claire magazine says that many celebrities credit H2O for their clear, glowing, smooth skin.
- It cools the body. When we sweat, water that we have stored comes to the surface of the skin then evaporates, which cools us off.
- It keeps our kidneys functioning properly. According to MedicalNewsToday.com, every day our kidneys filter 120-150 quarts of fluid. Water helps dissolve minerals and nutrients, helping them get distributed through our bodies. If our kidneys don’t get enough water, waste products and excess fluid can build up and cause urinary tract or kidney infections, kidney stones and even kidney disease. Kidneys also keep our electrolytes in balance.
- It keeps us regular! If we are dehydrated, we get constipated. Water literally flushes us out!
- It helps form saliva and mucus. Saliva is important for digestion and also keeps the mouth clean. And keeping our mouth, nose and eyes moist prevents friction and damage.
- It helps us maintain our blood pressure. Lack of water can cause our blood to thicken, raising our blood pressure.
- It can help a headache. Healthline reports that studies have shown dehydration can trigger headaches in some people. Drinking water may also lessen the severity of an existing headache.
- It can prevent a hangover. Alcohol is a diuretic, which can quickly cause dehydration that brings on symptoms like dry mouth, fatigue and headaches. Drinking plenty of water when having alcoholic beverages can prevent dehydration.
These are just a few of the many benefits water provides. Sip throughout the day to stay hydrated and stay healthy! And don’t forget that many fruits and veggies can also provide much-needed hydration.
Share Post
Our Recent Blogs
Most people have health and fitness goals. Even if they do not officially fill out a questionnaire or answer specific questions, everyone has ways they would like to improve their health and change their physique. Whether it is getting off medication, going down a shirt size or feeling toned, many people have something related to their health and fitness on their mind each day. However, in our experience, many clients come to us with specific goals and desires and the wrong understanding of how to get there. For example, someone may tell us they wanted to lose belly fat, so they bought a BowFlex. Others may tell us they want to be stronger with more muscle in their arms and legs, so they bought an exercise bike. We even see people do lots of stomach crunches and sit-ups because they want a flatter stomach, not knowing there are better ways to achieve that. Most commonly, people join a gym and only end up using the treadmill because they are too unfamiliar with what else they should be doing. Although all exercise is good for weight loss, toning, building strength and reshaping your body, many people do not understand the ways they should be exercising based on their body and goals. At Axio Fitness, we do thorough, scientific assessments with all clients. After that, we set 6-week goals, and we train the clients based on those goals. We also give them a cardio prescription and nutrition plan specific to their six-week goals. All exercise is good! But goal specific training will obviously be the quickest and best way to get you where you want to be. If you need personal attention and professional guidance, call Axio Fitness!
A unilateral exercise is resistance training or weight bearing exercise when you only work one limb at a time (one arm or one leg). Examples of unilateral exercises for your lower body include step-ups, split squats, or lunges. Upper-body exercises include 1 arm dumbbell or cable row, and a 1 arm dumbbell or cable press. Unilateral exercises are great to include in your workout routine because they improve stabilization and reduce the risk of injury. When you are only working one side at a time, your body is forced to use the muscles that keep you stable and balanced. This translates into better balance in everyday life. These exercises are also great to improve muscle imbalances. We all have a dominant side or one arm and leg that is stronger than the other. When doing exercises that involve both sides at once, your dominant side can carry more of the workload without you realizing it. If it is a squat or bench press, your stronger side can actually be lifting more than half the weight. Unilateral exercises ensure both your strong and weak side are getting equal work and help to balance out any differences in strength. For more understanding of the proper ways to exercise for your health and your goals, contact Axio Fitness today!
So often I see ads for supplements, home exercise equipment, or medication that boasts, “no more killing yourself at the gym!”. Clearly, tough, sweaty workouts are viewed as a negative that should be avoided if there are alternative options. However, hard workouts do not exist simply to burn calories and lose weight. We should be working out with some intensity to build strength in our muscles and bones, build stamina and endurance, and improve overall health while reducing the risk of injury. If a medication or supplement helped you shed some pounds, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting healthier. If you aren’t active, you aren’t improving your health in ways that you should. Of course, no one should work at an intensity that really makes them feel terrible. But as I tell clients, you should be safely pushing yourself to the point of feeling accomplished after a workout. Work up a sweat if you can! Then, you will know you have made progress in your physical fitness. At Axio Fitness we are firm believers in weight loss through activity and healthy nutrition. Regardless of supplements or medication you may try, you should exercise for the many benefits beyond weight loss.
According to several studies, taking a nap three to four days a week has proven to have several health benefits including improving your mood, reducing fatigue, increasing alertness and improving your mental health. Most health experts recommend a 30-90 minute nap to achieve these benefits. Along with these benefits, there have been several studies around the world researching the benefits of sleep for people who are physically active. Many of these studies have also concluded that napping for 30 minutes per day or less could be beneficial to helping you progress in your fitness levels. However, there are clearly conflicting studies on napping. Some studies say there are proven health benefits, while other studies say that napping may be doing more harm than good on your physical and emotional health. All of these studies, however, agree on one thing. Sleep deprivation should be avoided. Napping is likely very helpful for those who are sleep deprived. But even better than napping to catch up on sleep is getting enough sleep through the night. There are no conflicting studies on adequate sleep. The mentioned health benefits of napping can also be experienced from adequate sleep. Along with many more benefits not mentioned. Whether your goal is weight loss, mental health, more energy or to be more physically fit, all these things can be achieved through better sleep.
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published.
Required fields are marked *
