Let’s face it, water is essential for life. The body needs an ample amount of water for optimum performance and it is the best source of fluid to keep you hydrated.
Hydration impacts our overall health. If you really think about it, water is like a nutrient for the body.
The thing is, we cannot live without it and you can take comfort in the fact that when you drink enough water it’s a win-win situation all around.
Apart from scoring all the great health benefits, it is also calorie-free and alcohol-free.
The amount of drinking water required for each individual varies depending on physical activity, age, health issues, and environmental conditions.
Most people tend to consume in the hot summer months. If you don’t drink enough water, you don’t flush waste and toxins from your system which can collect in your body causing a number of health issues.
You should prioritise the consumption of water because it will improve your overall health.
Improves Skin
If you don’t drink enough water certain toxins in the body can cause the skin to get infected and inflamed.
This causes pores to get clogged resulting in acne. Drinking adequate amount of water does flush toxins from the body through sweating and can help to reduce pimples and plumps up the skin which helps to prevent premature wrinkling.
Energy Boost
Tiredness is one of the first signs of dehydration. Ever thought about why a glass of water is offered as soon as someone says they’re not feeling well?
A glass of water can help you to concentrate and stay refreshed and alert and actually improve your state of mind.
Cramps and Pain Prevention
Water keeps the cartilage around your joints hydrated and supple. So with proper hydration, joints are kept lubricated and muscles more elastic and joint pain is less likely.
If the body is dehydrated muscle cramps, aching joints and strains can occur.
Ensure that your joints stay lubricated as more elasticity in the muscles protects your tissues and keeps you healthy.
Promotes Weight Loss
It’s easy to forget to drink enough water but it is vital that you amp up your water intake.
According to studies if you drink two (2) glasses of water half an hour before meals it naturally curbs hunger and therefore reduces the amount of food that you will eat.
If an adequate amount of water is consumed, it may also raise your metabolism and help you to burn calories and lose weight.
A lot of times you may think you are hungry when in fact, you are really just thirsty.
When you feel hungry if you drink some water it can help you determine how hungry you really are.
Studies from the University of Oxford found that obese adults who drank 16 ounces of water half an hour before their meals resulted in eating fewer calories.
Also, as long as you have an adequate amount of water in your system it does help to control your blood pressure.
Proper Kidney Function
Water is essential for the kidneys to function properly. Your kidneys do an incredible job of cleansing and eliminating toxins from the body.
If the kidneys are not functioning properly, then waste products and excess fluid can build up inside the body.
If you do not have an adequate amount of water in your system the body traps what is available so that it can carry out proper bodily functions.
The leading cause of kidney stones is the lack of water. So drinking an adequate amount of water is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of developing kidney stones.
Research has shown that kidney stones also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. When if left untreated can lead to kidney failure where the organs shut down.
Maintains Regularity
Let’s talk about the dreaded uncomfortable subject of constipation, yea, let’s go there. Most people at some point will experience constipation. This is because your bowels need water in order to do their duty.
More often than not constipation is a temporary situation. When you understand exactly what causes your constipation then that is the first step to solving your problem.
If we are honest, pretty much all the time, lack of an adequate amount of water intake is one of the common causes of constipation.
Water adds fluid to the colon making bowel movement easier. So let’s give the colon the water it needs to do its job.
Prevents Dehydration
Using more water than the body takes in can lead to an imbalance in your body’s electrolytes. Electrolytes such as magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and sodium are needed to help carry electrical signals between cells.
When the kidneys are unable to maintain a balance in the levels of electrolytes, these electrical signals get mixed up and lead to seizures as well as loss of consciousness.
In severe cases of dehydration there can be a potentially life-threatening outcome. This leaves you wide open for the possibility of chronic kidney failure damage to the central nervous system, heart failure and an immune system that is compromised.
Dehydration also causes shrinkage of your brain tissue. So when you haven’t been drinking enough water your brain has to work a lot harder to function at the same level.
When you are dehydrated, it can lead to an overly acidic stomach. This can result in digestive problems which if left untreated can cause stomach ulcers.
Balance of Body Fluids
Drinking adequate amounts of water helps to maintain a balance of our body fluids.
Approximately 60 percent of the human body is water. So it makes sense that on a day to day basis we need to maintain it by drinking ample amounts of this life-giving liquid.
Well, if we keep your fluids balanced, that water will be able to aid in the transporting of nutrients. This will also help you to regulate temperature, digestion, circulation, absorption and producing saliva.
If you do not like the bland taste of water then, by all means, improve the taste. You can do so by adding some flavour with lemon slices, a few sprigs of mint, cucumber slices, strawberries, blueberries or a combination of fruits.
When you are on the go, keep a bottle of water in your bag, in your car or at your desk.
This act as your reminder to take your drink of water throughout the day. You will know you’ve had enough water when your pee is mostly clear.
Let’s drink our way to good health, Are you drinking enough water?
