The effect of water on heart and vascular health — a review of scientific research

The importance of the cardiovascular system for the functioning of the body cannot be overestimated. The problems that arise with it affect all vital processes.

Primary function of the vascular system &8212; blood transfer and nutrition of organs and tissues. The role of the heart is comparable to the function of a pump that ensures the performance of blood supply processes. At the same time, the restoration of the heart and blood vessels is an extremely complex, lengthy and not always successful process. Therefore, it is important to take care of its normal functioning, support it and nourish it.

It is recommended to do this not only by taking medications, but mainly by leading a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and consuming enough fluids daily.

According to the American Heart Association, drinking enough water is critically important for heart health.

Why is it important to drink enough fluids?

Experts recommend starting the morning with a glass of water. This will allow you to start the metabolic processes of the body on the eve of a new day.

According to a study by the American Journal of Epidemiology people who drink at least 5 glasses of water daily have a 46% lower chance of developing heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases, compared with those who drink 2 glasses of water or less.

Clean water can't replace tea, juice, or even coffee , because these drinks (even if they are cooked in spring water) are more difficult to break down by the body and are not recognized by it as water. However, green tea is also very good for the heart , but we talked about this in a separate article.

The body consists of more than 78% water. It contains the nutrients necessary for the healthy functioning of the body.

It is very important to drink clean water, because the body absorbs not only useful substances from the liquid, but also in the presence of harmful impurities.

See also:

• 7 juices that are beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
• Scientific facts about the effect of coffee on the heart: not everything is so simple.
• The truth about the effect of red wine on blood vessels.

Which water is better to use: hard or soft?

According to researchers, hard water is healthier for the cardiovascular system.

This paradoxical conclusion is due to the fact that hard water is saturated with magnesium and calcium salts, necessary to ensure the transmission of cardiac impulses and increase the malleability of vascular walls, while soft water is oversaturated with sodium, an excess of which increases the pressure and load on the heart muscle.

Potassium and magnesium are so important that there is even Special diet for heart health , the key aspect of which is the increased use of these elements.

Mineral water in large quantities should be drunk with caution. It is better to give preference to table water for daily use. You can use both cold water and warm water.

The best option is medium hardness water.

My heart hurts when I drink water: why and what to do?

Heart pain during water consumption can diagnose heart failure, as a result of which edema, shortness of breath, and heaviness in the hepatic region may occur.

The appearance of these symptoms suggests that it is necessary to reduce the level of consumption water, and also take into account liquid food (soups) in the amount of liquid consumed. This will ensure close to normal fluid circulation in the body.

Consumption standards for a healthy person

The recommended amount of daily water intake depends on several factors:

• Heredity, genetic predisposition;
• Seasonality;
• The nature of professional activity;
• Lifestyle.

In general, the recommendations for water consumption are as follows: 1.5 &8212; 2 liters per day. However, if by occupation a person stays on his feet for a long time in uncomfortable shoes (relevant, for example, for military personnel), then consumption of such an amount of water can cause swelling of the lower extremities.

Excessive sweating or frequent bladder urges may also indicate this. The volume of liquid consumption is a subjective value that needs to be adjusted according to related factors.

In case of heart failure

With these symptoms, as well as in their absence, but with the presence of other signs of heart failure It is important to keep the volume of liquid consumed in the range of 0.75-1.25 liters per day. More detailed recommendations can be given by a doctor, who should definitely be consulted for symptoms indicating possible heart failure.

With high blood pressure

With high blood pressure, specialists, as a rule, prescribe abundant consumption of clean water at the level of a healthy person, that is about 2 liters daily . However, with a progressive disease characterized by shrinking of the kidneys, this amount may be excessive. In this case, water consumption should be from 1 to 1.5 liters daily.

What else should be included in the diet?

1. Fruits for heart health. Positive the effect of bananas on the heart is due to the high content of potassium and beta-carotene. Lemon is important for countering inflammatory processes, healing and rejuvenation. Pomegranate &8212; an indispensable fruit with a restorative effect for all processes in the body. Persimmon 8212; another healthy seasonal fruit rich in beta-carotene and iron.
2. Vegetables. The importance of eating of garlic and onion is due to the high content of fatty acids, important amino acids and trace elements necessary for the cardiovascular system. Pumpkin 8212; a vegetable rich in beta-carotene, an essential substance for &171;cores&187;. Bell pepper &8212; has different properties depending on the season, in winter the most useful &8212; green color.
3. Berries. Cranberries is able to saturate organs with oxygen, which is lacking in tissues with cardiovascular diseases. Consumption viburnum normalizes blood pressure. Eating grapes provides vasodilation and prevents thrombosis.
4. Nuts &8212; a real storehouse of vitamins and nutrients for all body systems, including the cardiovascular system.
5. Dried Fruits preserve almost all the vitamins and substances contained in fresh fruits, which allows you to benefit from them for the body not only in season, but also throughout the year.
6. Dairy products is more important for young organisms due to the better absorption of lactose &8212; milk sugar.
7. Fish.  The importance of seafood is due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids (Omega), they can be purchased at the pharmacy in capsule form, but the body absorbs the necessary substances better in natural form.
8. Bitter chocolate helps to lower blood pressure. It also reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
9. Turmeric prevents the development of all unwanted inflammations.
10. Natural olive and linseed oils contain elements similar to those found in fish oil, and are also well absorbed by the body.
11. Some drinks. Green tea helps to improve the metabolic processes of the body. Coffee also has a positive effect on blood vessels, but experts recommend drinking no more than 3 cups of espresso per day. Natural juices from pomegranate, grapes and vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, beets and tomatoes are also very useful.

Interesting video on the topic

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the video, which tells about the benefits of water for our body:

Thus, a properly selected amount of clean water consumed daily, combined with saturation of the diet with certain foods, can help not only maintain the cardiovascular system in a healthy state, but also correct problems caused by conditions of heart failure or high blood pressure.