Why do doctors often recommend drinking more water? It can improve various health problems and has many benefits

Go back and drink more water "is a doctor's advice that we often hear when seeking medical treatment. Why do doctors always remind us to drink more water every time we see them?

A study has found that drinking more water can indeed improve many health problems, and the benefits far exceed our expectations!

Drinking plenty of water can help prevent various diseases

On November 25, 2024, a study published in a sub issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that drinking enough water can help prevent various diseases, specifically——

Drinking 8 glasses of water every day can significantly reduce the risk of developing kidney stones again;

Drinking more than 4 glasses of water every day will help control the rise of blood sugar in patients with diabetes;

Drinking 6 more glasses of water every day can help women with recurrent urinary tract infections reduce the number of infections;

Drinking more water can also help control low blood pressure in young adults.

Drinking plenty of water can alleviate various health problems

Relieve colds

When you have a cold or fever, others will always advise you to "drink plenty of water", which is not a perfunctory sentence and can indeed alleviate the symptoms of the cold.

After catching a cold, there are often symptoms of fever, sweating, or sweating due to medication, which can lead to fluid loss. Drinking water can replenish the body's water in a timely manner and avoid collapse; Drinking plenty of water can also alleviate the discomfort of throat dryness and thirst during a cold, as well as dilute phlegm, which is beneficial for the discharge of viscous phlegm; In addition, drinking more water can promote sweating and urination, accelerate the elimination of bacteria and viruses from the body.

Relieve constipation

Some people with constipation may have insufficient water intake, and their stool stays in the large intestine for too long, absorbing a large amount of water and making it difficult to excrete.

To ensure smooth bowel movements, it is necessary to have sufficient water in the intestinal cavity to soften the stool. If you have constipation, you should drink plenty of water and try to choose warm water. Do not use beverages or coffee to replace the water you drink in daily life, as this is more beneficial for bowel movements.

Relieve gout

Drinking water plays a crucial role for gout patients. Doctors say that purines are easily soluble in water, and drinking more water is beneficial for gout patients. It helps to eliminate uric acid, prevent uric acid kidney stones, and delay progressive kidney damage.

Gout patients generally need to drink at least 2000 milliliters of water per day, and for patients with kidney stones, it is best to drink 3000 milliliters. However, for those with renal insufficiency or abnormal heart and lung function, their water intake should be limited according to their condition. It is advisable to choose plain water, mineral water, fruit juice or light tea water.

Preventing stones

Many urinary tract stones are related to insufficient drinking water. Drinking plenty of water can flush the urinary tract, which is beneficial for preventing the formation of stones and promoting the excretion of urinary stones.

stimulate the circulation of blood

Warm water can also promote blood circulation. Drinking a cup of warm water in the morning can help reduce the risk of cerebral thrombosis and myocardial infarction. Therefore, after waking up in the morning, remember to drink 1 cup (200-400 milliliters) of warm water, preferably at 35 ℃ -40 ℃.

Help with weight loss

There are many studies that have found that drinking water before meals can help with weight loss, which is somewhat similar to the commonly known "soup before meals".

Drinking some water before meals can first reduce eating by increasing satiety; Secondly, the desire for food will also change because with enough water, the body will prefer protein over fattening carbohydrates.

Do you really know how to drink water? Pay attention to these 5 points

Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink

You cannot judge whether you need to drink water by whether you are thirsty or not. Doctors say that when we are thirsty, our body loses 1% to 2% of its water, indicating that the body is already dehydrated.

When water loss reaches 2% to 4%, the body feels thirsty while also being dehydrated, with less urine and a dark yellow color. At this time, work and cognitive abilities may decrease.

If you feel extremely thirsty, dry skin, dry mouth and tongue, hoarse voice, and overall weakness, you may already be in a state of moderate dehydration.

For the general public, drinking water between 35 ℃ and 40 ℃ is most suitable because it is close to the temperature inside the human body, making the gastrointestinal tract more comfortable. People who are afraid of cold can choose to drink water with slightly higher temperatures, but it is best not to exceed 50 ℃.

Drink slowly in small sips

According to the Chinese Dietary Guidelines for Residents (2022), adult males should drink 1700 milliliters of water per day, and adult females should drink 1500 milliliters of water per day, which means that at least 6-8 glasses of water per day are more appropriate.

The recommended way to drink water is to drink in small amounts multiple times. Allocate the total amount of drinking water per day to about 200 milliliters each time. Drink some water casually when you have nothing to do, and you can also drink some water appropriately during meals.

Don't replace drinking water with drinks

Many people feel that plain water has no taste and prefer to drink beverages instead of water. However, excessive consumption of sugary drinks can easily lead to obesity, which in turn can cause more health problems and is not conducive to dental health. Therefore, never replace drinking water with beverages.

Drink less ice water

Too cold water temperature can stimulate the heart, as it can cause the coronary arteries to contract when exposed to cold, affecting the functioning of the heart, impairing blood circulation, and increasing the risk of developing diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

Especially for patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension, it is important to note that the water temperature should not be too low. If you really don't want to drink hot water, the water temperature should also be between 20 ℃ and 30 ℃.

Therefore, I think it is very necessary to buy a thermos with good effects and maintain a daily drinking habit!