In one of their health articles, Brazilian edition of Men´s Health magazine has talked about the importance of drinking water and other liquids on a daily basis. We´ve selected the best parts and put it here to share it with you, so you can also be aware of the benefits of having enough of it and the troubles you might get into if you ignore this vital necessity.

                                                                                                                             Credits: Getty Images


An old wives tale says you are what you eat, but maybe it would be more appropriate to say you are what you drink. Your body is made of 60% of water and liquids are involved in practically all organic processes. When you´re dehydrated, you lose muscular strength, digestion worsens and even sex becomes more difficult. That´s right: for your penis to be rigid, a hot babe or your dirty thoughts aren´t enough.

Drinking less liquid than necessary may result in several problems, such as:
. Dry skin;
. Intestine goes on strike;
. You feel dizzy and might faint (due to the low blood pressure);
. Dry mouth (in some cases, this also causes nose bleeding and reddened eyes. Saliva production is also low);
. Kidney stones;
. Your whole body aches.


How much to drink, after all?
There is a theory which says we should drink at least eight glasses of water daily, but this is too general. The quantity varies according to the organism of each person and even from one day to the other if we take into consideration the temperature, what you eat and your metabolism. The recommended daily ingestion is three liters. Men need 20% more than women though, due to their size - guys are usually bigger than gals, therefore they have a bigger area to cover.

So how can we tell when is the right time to get going? Well, that´s easy: when you feel thirsty. But don´t just sit there waiting until your panting. The best way to do it is to be fast once you feel the necessity of having something liquid, since the sensation of thirst starts when your body is between 1% and 2% dehydrated.

Just don´t swallow one glass after the other in one go. Our stomach has the capacity for keeping 12ml per hour for every kilogram of your body weight. If you overdo it, you´ll feel heavy and uncomfortable. A man who weighs 70kg (154lb) can drink four glasses at a time - and we´re not talking water only. You may have other liquids as well, such as juices and teas. Forget energetic drinks and beer. These are options which steal liquids from your organism because the first option is diuretic and the second contributes to the increase of transpiration.


How do I do if I exercise?
Before exercising: the ones who weightlift just need to be well hydrated before starting. Now for those who are training heavily – in a more intense week or a new program – the recommendation is for half a liter of water about two hours or an hour and a half before training.

During exercise: "If your practicing something less intense, have a glass of water every 20 minutes”, says the doctor Antonio Sergio Tebexreni, from Check-up Fitness, in Sao Paulo. "During heavier exercises, such as the ones which last over an hour, the best options are the isotonic. They hydrate and at the same time keep the salt level balanced."

After exercising: drink until you´re full. Opt for water, isotonic and juices. As it is a phase in which it´s important to replace the energy lost, the sips must be accompanied by foods which are rich in carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta.