The Water and a Healthy Heart Connection

It is “heartening” to see so many carrying water with them wherever they
go, and sipping from water bottles throughout the day.  “Heartening”
because water is so important for the heart.

When we think about water, we are inclined to think of it as something
that flushes out toxins from the body, keeps us hydrated, and the number
one thing that keeps us alive.  But how often do you think of how
important it is to the heart?

The information provided in this article comes from a study done at Loma
Linda University, reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology (Vol.
155, No.9). Here is a list of findings from this study on the how water
benefits the heart:

    * “Basically, not drinking enough water can be as harmful to your
      heart as smoking,” warns Jacqueline Chan, DrPH, principle
      investigator and lead author of the article.
    * Dr. Chan and Synnove Knutson, MD , PhD, second author, chair of
      epidemiology department, found that California Seventh-day
      Adventists who drink five or more glasses of plain water a day
      have a much lower risk of fatal coronary heart disease compared to
      those who drink less than two glasses per day.
    * By drinking more plain water, healthy people without any history
      of heart disease, stroke, or diabetes reduced their risk of dying
      from a heart attack by half or more. This is as much or more than
      if they had adopted any other well-known preventive measure,
      including stopping smoking and lowering cholesterol levels,
      increasing exercise or maintaining ideal weight.
    * Drinking high amounts of plain water is as important as exercise,
      diet, or not smoking in preventing coronary heart disease.
    * Drinking fluids other than water did not show a reduced risk in
      heart disease, in fact the risk increased because of the kinds of
      liquids…ie soda, coffee, etc.
    * “People need to be made aware that there is a difference, at least
      for heart health, whether they get their fluids from plain water
      or from sodas,” says Dr. Chan.

So the next time you come in from your run, or finish your workout, and
are ready for a nice drink to replenish your body, make it water.  When
you go out on the road on your vacation trips, and stop for a drink
along the way, and are tempted by those cans of soda, grab a water
bottle instead.  Carry water with you whenever you can.

Drink approximately 1/2 your body weight IN OUNCES of water each day. 
ie. 140 lbs. = 8-9 8 oz glasses of water each day.

This article is provided by Claudia L. Meydrech, CN, and is based on
information provided by her favorite source nutrient-dense snacks, and
very unique food-based cleansing programs from the wholesale buyers
club,  “The Wholefood Farmacy” at
happynutritionist.wholefoodfarmacy.com.  You can visit Claudia’s main
website at Happy Nutritionist