Loose Women: Dr Hilary discusses how to live longer
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), life expectancy in the UK is 79.2 years for males and 82.9 years for females with the average life expectancy at 80.96 years. Life expectancy progress in the UK has stopped for the first time and the reason for this was explained by the ONS: “The stalling of life expectancy was linked to a particularly high number of deaths from 2015 – 2017 which coincided with a bad flu season and excess winter deaths.” The longevity of your life is 75 percent down to your lifestyle and you have the power to change many variables that influence how long you live by ensuring you are drinking water. How much should you be drinking and how can water help boost your longevity?
As water is our body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 per cent of our body weight, water should be our drink of choice over sugary, calorie-laden drinks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that water helps your body maintain a normal temperature, lubricates and cushions joints, protects the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and gets rid of waste.
Other health benefits of water include reducing daytime fatigue, improving memory, nourishing the skin, improving digestion, aiding in nutrient absorption, removing toxins from the body and improving circulation.
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Everyone needs to drink a different amount of water, said dietitian Juliette Kellow and nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.
Your daily requirements depend on your weight, age, gender, level of activity, and the climate you live in, they said.
But women should be drinking around two litres of water every day, and two and a half litres for men.
“For most of us, about one-fifth of the fluid in our diet comes from foods, such as milk, soup, stews, yoghurts, fruit and veg,” they said, in their book ‘Eat Better Live Longer – Understand What Your Body Needs To Stay Healthy’.
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“Research from the European Food safety Authority suggests adequate daily intakes of water are about 2 litres [ 3.5 pints] for women and 2.5 litres [4.25 pints] for men.
“If 20 per cent of this comes from food, then women need to drink 1.6 litres [2.75 pints] and men 2 litres [3.5 pints] of fluids.
“That’s about six to eight glasses each day. Good hydration helps your body operate better for long.”
“Compared to other methods of hydration, water is incredibly effective for the simple reason that our bodies are 60 percent water, said Cloe. Personal trainer and nutrition coach with a qualification in Hydration for Sport Chloe Twist
She continued: “It has been proven to significantly reduce the risks of various health conditions and even certain forms of cancer, thanks to the fact that it boosts the function of our vital organs as well as improving their health.
“Plus, it flushes harmful toxins and waste products out of our body that would otherwise be retained, which means that greater hydration levels equal greater detoxification.
“This in itself leads to a longer and healthier life, since living with the symptoms of dehydration will only have negative effects on the overall health of the individual, even if they are living an otherwise healthy lifestyle.
“Multiple studies have confirmed that there is a correlation between optimal hydration levels and an increased lifespan, which means that drinking the correct amount of water for their body weight each day is one way that an individual can boost their longevity as well as their overall health.”
During a normal day, we lose about two litres of water just through breathing, sweat and other bodily functions, according to board certified internist Dr Blanca Lizaola-Mayo.
She continued: “Even while asleep, we can lose over one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of water-weight not just through sweating, but respiration as well. Even air conditioning has drying effects on our body.
“There are a number of evidence-based health benefits of drinking plenty of water, including maximising physical performance; optimizing energy levels and mood; and aiding digestion and elimination.
“But also, be mindful of water intake as drinking too much water or fluid can lead to hyponatremia, which causes sodium in the cells to become diluted and too low and can be dangerous—and even life threatening—if untreated.”
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