Drink more water, we hear this all the time and it causes many of us to simply roll our eyes. We urge you to stop the eye roll and take a look at why drinking water is so important to live a healthy life.
1. Our Bodies are Made of Water
Adult humans are 60 percent water, and our blood is 90 percent water. Therefore, water is essential to keep our bodies functioning properly.
2. Regulates Body Temperature
As the temperatures begin to increase it is especially important to stay hydrated as sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself. When there is too little water in the body, heat storage increases and you may be less able to tolerate heat and experience an increased risk of heat stroke and/or exhaustion.
3. Oral Health
Drinking a glass of water after eating can actually help to wash away any leftover food particles in the mouth. This can, therefore, help to prevent bad breath and help prevent bacteria buildup on the teeth which can lead to caries.
4. Lubricates and Cushions Joints
Cartilage, found in joints and the spinal disks are approximately 80 percent water. Long-term dehydration can reduce the joints’ shock-absorbing ability, leading to joint pain.
5. Rids the Body of Waste
Water is needed for basic bodily functions to remove waste such as sweating, urination, and bowel movements.
6. Protects Sensitive Tissues
Water is involved in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters. Dehydration can affect spinal and brain health causing issues with thinking and reasoning.
7. Weight Management
Sugar sodas and juices can pack in a ton of calories without you even realizing how much you are consuming. Swapping out those sugary drinks for water, which is zero calories, will have your waistline thanking you!
8. Improve Athletic Performance
Studies have shown that dehydration reduces performance in activities lasting longer than 30 minutes, as cells that don’t maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue quicker.
9. Skin Health
Hydrated skin is happy skin. Dehydration can cause the skin to become more vulnerable to skin disorders and premature wrinkling.
10. It’s Free, Delicious, and Natural
Water is the most basic and natural beverage on the planet. We are meant to drink water and our bodies need it to function properly.
These are just 10 simple reasons to drink more water, but there are undoubtedly hundreds of reasons to reach for that glass of H2O. An easy guideline to follow is to aim to consume about 2 Liters of water a day. Keep in mind this amount will vary from person to person and will depend on your lifestyle. Remember, when in doubt go for that glass of water!
