Did You Know…that drinking water can lower your risk of heart disease? 
Water makes up 71% of the Earth’s surface and 60% of the human adult body. A body suffering from a water deficit of just 2% may exhibit cognitive dysfunction, blurred vision, and fatigue.
Habitually failing to drink enough water may lead to chronic headaches, constipation, kidney stones, and poor circulation. On the other hand, drinking at least 5 glasses of water a day could dramatically slash your heart attack risk.
Water for Life
Researchers analyzed data from the government-sponsored Adventist Health Study. Seventh Day Adventists are a Christian denomination who practice a healthy lifestyle overall, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco/nicotine. Using this healthy background as a basis for research, epidemiologists from Loma Linda University in California examined the drinking habits of 12,000 females and 8,000 males of the Adventist faith over a six-year period. At the start of the study, all participants were vetted as healthy and filled out detailed questionnaires as to their lifestyle, fitness, and diet habits.
An in-depth analysis revealed that women and men who drank 5 or more glasses of water a day were 41% and 54% less likely to suffer a heart attack, respectively, than women and men who only drank 2 glasses of water a day. Researchers also investigated the relationship between heart attack risk and other variables such as…
Age
BMI
Blood pressure
Activity level
Dietary intake of meat, nuts, and whole grains
High water intake protected against heart attack risk in every case.
According to researchers, other liquids offered no protective benefit, and even increased the likelihood of dying from heart attack. These results held regardless of whether the liquid was tea, coffee, juice, or soft drinks. Researchers believe water helps improve your cardiovascular health by keeping your blood thin and free flowing. Other liquids don’t impart the same benefit, and either act as stimulants (as is the case with caffeinated teas and coffee) or load the body with sugar (as is the case with juices and soft drinks).
In fact, previous research has shown that 3 cups of grape juice a day can up your triglyceride levels by as much as 50%, while 3 cups of orange juice increase triglycerides by 30%. The connection? Triglycerides in the blood are tied to a higher chance of heart attack.
The benefits of water extend beyond heart disease protection. Water keeps your skin looking healthy, energizes your muscles, supports healthy kidney and bowel function, and so much more. So make sure to drink at least 5 glasses of water a day. Add some zest with freshly squeezed fruits, or mix it with some carbonation/spritzer to help you ditch your soda habit.
