Benefits of Drinking Water
Water is the second most popular beverage in the U.S. after soft drinks, which is a scary statistic when you stop and think about it. Sugary soda increases risk of obesity, stroke, and other heart problems . However, these dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water, which doesn’t have negative side effects.
The amount of water people need per day is up for debate, but studies suggest adults need nine to 16 cups of water. However this number varies depending on activity level, age, and how much water people are consuming in coffee, tea, or water-rich veggies and fruit.
The benefits of drinking water is is not up for debate. Here are the many reason that drinking water is good for your entire body:
Fluid balance
Roughly 60% of the body is made of water. Drinking enough water maintains the body’s fluid balance, which helps transport nutrients in the body, regulate body temperature, digest food, and more. Water-rich fruits and vegetables like cucumber, watermelon, and strawberries contain minerals, salts, and natural sugars the body needs for optimum hydration levels, so eating them can sometimes rehydrate us more effectively than water alone.
Weight Loss
Drinking water could also help with weight loss. Studies have found that when participants drink water before a meal, they lose weight faster than those who did not drink water . Extra H2O helps us eat less by making us feel full, and it may also boost metabolism. CamelBak hydration advisor Kate Geagan, RD says it’s not uncommon to put on weight by mistaking thirst for hunger, and she offers this pro tip: Next time you feel fatigued or sluggish, “drinking water may be just what [you] need to perk up.”
Muscle fuel
Sweating during a workout causes muscles to lose water. And when the muscles don’t have enough water, they get tired. As we get closer to summer with temperatures rising, staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do. The hotter the workout, the sweatier we tend to get, so it’s extra important to replace those lost fluids. So for extra energy, try drinking water to push through that final set of squats.
Clearer skin
Certain toxins in the body can cause the skin to inflame, which results in clogged pores and acne . Water flushes out these toxins and can reduce the risk of pimples.
Productivity boost
In order to really focus, a glass of water could help people concentrate and stay refreshed and alert. If you’re going to need to concentrate for long periods of time, keep water handy to help you stay refreshed, hydrated, and focused: Dehydration can impair your attention span, memory, and motor skills. One study even found a link between students bringing water into an exam room and better grades. While it’s unclear if drinking the water had anything to do with a better score, it doesn’t hurt to try it out!
Energy boost
Water can help fight tired eyes too . One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is fatigue. Next time you’re feeling tired, try drinking a couple glasses of water. Feeling tired is one of the first signs of dehydration and filling back up on H2O could give you the boost you need.
Mood improvement
Drinking water makes us feel so refreshed that it actually improves our state of mind. You don’t even have to be severely in need of it to benefit: Even mild dehydration has been shown to negatively impact moods.
Mixology
Drinking alcohol causes dehydration, which can lead to hangovers. Using seltzer water and fresh fruit instead of sugary mixers makes for a delicious, better-for-you drink (that can also help prevent dehydration). Having a glass of water with each alcoholic drink you sip is another way to help hydrate the body and stop that pounding headache the next morning.
Pain prevention
A little water can really go a long way. Aching joints and muscle cramps and strains can all occur if the body is dehydrated. Water keeps the cartilage around our joints hydrated and flexible, ensuring that our joints stay lubricated. It also protects our spinal cord and tissues, keeping us healthy from the inside out.
Headache prevention
Going without water for too long causes headaches for some people, and has been identified as a migraine trigger. Studies have shown that drinking an average of two cups of water will relieve a headache within 30 minutes. Staying hydrated throughout the day can help prevent headaches caused by dehydration.
Keep things flowing
Drinking enough water prevents constipation and also reduces the burden on the kidneys and liver by helping to flush waste products. “In the large intestine, water binds with fiber to increase the bulk of the stools, reduce transit time and make elimination easier. When you don’t drink enough water and fluids, the colon pulls water from stools, increasing your risk of constipation,” says Geagan. Our kidneys process 200 quarts of blood daily, sifting out waste and transporting urine to the bladder. Kidneys also need enough fluids to clear away what we don’t need in the body.
Cancer Prevention?
Water may help with decongestion and dehydration, helping the body bounce back when feeling under the weather with a cold or flu. But did you know that research has found that the greater the fluid intake, the lower the incidence of bladder cancer, with more significant results when the fluid is water? One possible reason could be that urinating more frequently prevents the buildup of bladder carcinogens. Staying hydrated may also reduce the risk of colon cancer and breast cancer.
Heart Health
Studies show a link between the risk of death from coronary heart disease and water intake. Consuming more water means a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease and that risk of death rises when intake of “high-energy fluids” (like soda and juice) increases.
Coastal Living
We had to include this one… A study shows that good health is more prevalent the closer one lives to the coast . Whether it’s the proximity to sea air, greenery, or opportunities to soak up sunshine on the beach, spending time near the water makes us healthier.
So get in the habit of drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up, and 30 minutes before eating any big meal. Keep a water bottle on hand at all times. And if the taste beings to bore, liven it up with a squeeze of citrus or slices of fresh fruit in the glass.