How Can Water Help To Boost Your Immunity?

Do you know an adequate daily water intake can be the next best thing to eating nutritious food to prevent diseases?

Water is a natural immunity booster that ensures good health. When your body is properly hydrated, it naturally flushes out the toxins and disease causing bacteria, thus improving your well-being.

Scroll down to know how water contributes to boosting your immune system and how you can use it.

Highlights:

• How Does Drinking Water Boost Your Immune System?
• Which Type Of Water Will Increase Immunity?
• Daily Water Intake Recommendations To Boost Your Immune System
• Best Infused Water Recipes To Boost Immunity

How Does Drinking Water Boost Your Immune System?

1. Water Acts As First Line Of Defence

You can ward off several kinds of chronic ailments by drinking adequate water throughout the day.

• Depression
• Arthritis
• Joint problems
• Osteoporosis [1], etc.

2. Water Aids In Lymph Production

“Your body needs lymph to transport white blood cells along with nutrients to all your body tissues,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix. It requires sufficient water to produce lymph, without which it cannot transport immune cells across the body in case of serious ailments.

3. Water Contributes To Digestion

Adequate nutrition is the foundation of a stronger immune system. Your body needs plenty of water to break down food into microparticles, thereby helping you in digestion. Without proper digestion, your body cannot absorb the nutrients from the food, which in turn affects your immune system.

4. Water Aids In Oxygenation

Every cell and tissue in your body needs adequate oxygen for normal functioning. And, your blood needs water as a carrier to transport oxygen to all your body cells.

5. Water Helps In Detoxification

Your kidneys need sufficient water to eliminate toxins from your body in the form of urine. “Inadequate water in your body leads to toxin buildup, leading to the destruction of your immune system,” says Dr. Zeel.

Which Type Of Water Will Increase Immunity?

1. Alkaline Water

It is nothing but mineral water that is rich in magnesium, calcium, and potassium. With a pH level between 8-10, alkaline water helps to neutralize the body toxins, thus, helping to boost your immunity. Also, alkaline water [3] is easily absorbed by your body.

Other benefits of alkaline water:

• Acts as a remedy for gastroesophageal reflux
• Strengthens your bones
• Aids in digestion and assimilation
• Enhance the functioning of your circulatory system
• Maintains your blood quality

Important Note:

Over alkalinity in water may lead to gastrointestinal and skin-related issues caused by metabolic alkalosis. Hence, it is highly recommended to consult your doctor before you have artificially prepared alkaline water, especially if you have existing kidney problems.

Generally, alkaline water or mineral water is produced artificially through the process called ‘ionization’.

How To Make Alkaline Water At Home Naturally?

A. Add a spoon of baking soda to 2 liters of water. Stir the mixture until the baking soda dissolves completely. Now, you have your alkaline water to drink throughout the day. However, excessive consumption of this alkaline water may have side effects, especially if you are sensitive to sodium.

B. Add half lemon juice, half lemon slices, and a spoon of sea salt(preferably Himalayan pink salt) to a liter of water. Mix the solution well and leave it overnight and have it throughout your next day. Although lemon juice is acidic, it turns out to have alkalizing effects once it gets metabolized in your body.

2. Cold Water

Ayurveda recommends cold water for people with Pitta dominant Prakriti. The cold water helps in relieving Pitta related conditions such as intoxication caused by alcohol, fainting, fatigue, giddiness, heat or burning sensation, bleeding conditions, thirst, dizziness, vomiting, and exhaustion.

Vedix Tip: Ayurveda recommends storing water in a clay pot rather than using a refrigerator for better health. You can also add a clearing nut (Kataka) into the pot as it helps to filter the suspended and dissolved contaminants from the water naturally.

3. Warm Water

Ayurveda recommends hot or lukewarm water [4] for people with Vata and Kapha dominant Prakriti. It helps to stimulate hunger, relieves throat conditions and hiccups, aids in digestion, and fights against chronic respiratory conditions.

“Consuming hot water at night is only good for people with Kapha dominant Prakriti,” says Dr. Zeel.

Daily Water Intake Recommendations To Boost Your Immune System

Typically, it is recommended to consume around 2 liters of water in a day [5]. However, depending on several factors such as medications, physical activity, health conditions, age, among others, the water requirement for your body varies.

“It is advised to experiment and find what works best for your body to stay hydrated. However, consuming more than 3 liters can be dangerous,” says Dr. Zeel.

Best Infused Water Recipes To Boost Immunity

1. Cut ½ cucumber and 1 lemon into slices. Crush 4-5 mint leaves. Add all the ingredients to 1 liter of water and leave it overnight. Drink this water throughout the next day.

2. Crush a handful of basil leaves and add them to a liter of water. Now, add ½ lemon juice, 3-4 lemon wedges along with 8-10 freshly sliced strawberries to the water. Leave the water aside or refrigerate for 5-6 hours before serving through your day.

3. Add 3-4 lemon slices, ½ cup of mango and pineapple pieces to a liter of water. Mix well and keep it aside for 5-6 hours and then have it.

4. Add 1 spoon of grated ginger, 1 spoon of turmeric powder, 2 pinches of cinnamon and black pepper powder each along with 2 spoons of lemon juice to 1 liter of water. Boil all the ingredients in water on low flame for 3-5 minutes and drink it as a hot herbal tea.

The Last Word

Certain nutrients and minerals present in water play a significant role in preventing chronic ailments in your body. Apart from adequate water, your body needs a nutritional diet, rest, and regular exercise to keep your immune system healthy and ready to defend your body. At Vedix, we analyze your doshas and customize immunity-boosting capsules with well balanced herbal formulations that your body needs.