In the hot summer, various beverages flood the market, giving people a wide range of choices. However, medical experts have found that plain water is the best beverage.
Boiled and naturally cooled water has unique biological activity, promoting metabolism and enhancing immune function by easily penetrating cell membranes. Drinking warm water can increase the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in organs, which can quickly reduce the accumulation of "fatigue factor" lactic acid in the muscles for those accustomed to drinking warm water, thereby eliminating fatigue.
Compared to other beverages, water also has physiological functions that they lack. Nutrients and metabolites in human tissues and cells require water as a carrier for their operation. Water can regulate body temperature and keep it from fluctuating too much. Water acts as a lubricant between body tissues. Water has strong solubility, easily dissolving various inorganic and organic substances, allowing metabolic waste to be easily eliminated from the body. Therefore, experts emphasize that whether for adults or children, plain water is the best beverage.
Currently, tap water in China is mainly disinfected with chlorine. When boiling water, how can we reduce the toxic substances to a safe level? Some experiments have been conducted, showing that the content of chlorinated hydrocarbons in water continues to increase as the water temperature rises. When the water temperature reaches 100 degrees Celsius, the content of chlorinated hydrocarbons still exceeds the standard. However, if boiling continues, the content rapidly decreases, and after 3 minutes, it falls below the standard limit. Therefore, it is recommended that when boiling water, a boiling time of 2 to 3 minutes should be used as a reference.
As for water temperature, it is best to drink warm water below 30 degrees Celsius, as it can be directly absorbed and utilized by the body without digestion, and it will not excessively stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, water contains many beneficial minerals and trace elements for the body, unlike some other beverages that are high in sugar but low in nutrients, which can easily cause nutritional imbalance.
So, how much water should we drink every day? Medical experts point out that, generally speaking, the amount of water a person drinks daily should at least balance with the body's water consumption. The average daily urine output of a person is about 1500 milliliters, and when combined with water expelled through feces, respiration, and sweat, the total water consumption is approximately 2500 milliliters. However, the amount of water replenished from food and metabolic processes is only about 1000 milliliters. Therefore, a normal person needs to drink at least 1500 milliliters of water every day, which is about 8 cups.
