Our brain and blood are comprised of 90% water, while our bodies are approximately 60-70% H2O. However, many people don’t pay enough attention to their water intake. Even though it’s so easily available, many of us still don’t realize the importance and astoundingly positive effects water has on our body, mind, and spirit.
Choosing Healthy Drinks
Water should make up most of your daily fluid intake; however, there are other healthy drinks you can choose if you’re one of those who doesn’t love the taste of water. For example, tea is an excellent choice if there’s nothing else added to it. Green tea, in particular, is popular due to its benefits concerning heart health and more active metabolism.
Avoid drinks that contain sugar as they tend to be quite calorific, and you can easily consume excessive calories without even knowing it!
Dr. Steven Guest told WebMD that it is imperative to consume pure water daily to improve your overall health and well-being.
We’re about to take you through 21 ways that water can benefit your health which affect you both in the long and short term.
21 Benefits Of Water
- Energy & Focus
Even if you’re only slightly dehydrated, your brain function can be reduced noticeably, to the point where you will struggle to focus and feel tired. Studies from Authority Nutrition show that being dehydrated by just 1-3% can interfere with optimal focus. If enough water isn’t fueling the brain, it’ll affect your ability to be productive, and fatigue kicks in quicker.
The body follows the brain. So if you’re feeling sluggish in the head, your body will adopt the same state. Simply put, more water equals more overall energy.
- Flushing Toxins
Having toxins in the body is completely normal; however, if they are not flushed out of the body, it can cause problems relating to the kidney and liver. Furthermore, the more toxins are given a chance to build up in the body, the harder it becomes to get rid of them.
There are three main ways these toxins can exit our body:
- Sweat
- Bowel movements
- Urine
For all three flushing methods to work, your body needs enough liquids to get the job done. You lose water via cleansing toxins, which can leave you dehydrated. The more water you drink, the easier you’ll make it for the body to expel the toxins and prevent further issues.
- Immune System Health
Drinking plenty of water helps your body, in general, to keep things running smoothly. The more water you drink, the more oxygen is carried to the body and cells, and the easier it becomes for the immune system to work on keeping you healthy.
However, if it constantly has to deal with the toxins in your body, other infections are given a chance to run wild. If you’re becoming ill regularly, try increasing your daily water intake with a clean diet and restful sleep.
- Weight Loss
Regardless of all the various diets available nowadays, one thing will always remain consistent – water. German researchers found that increased H2O consumption directly results in more calories burned, especially when that water is chilled.
One particular study from WebMD revealed that an estimated 17 ounces of water led to men’s and women’s metabolic activity increasing by 30% within just half an hour. When the metabolic rate is heightened, the body can burn more calories, even in a rested state. However, this alone may not provide noticeable results, but when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, water can help you in your weight loss journey.
- Digestion
According to Mayo Clinic, drinking water after and even during a meal can aid the body in breaking down food. This ensures that the body can properly absorb nutrients.
If the body is ineffective at digesting food, the nutrients you’re consuming will be wasted, which can lead to deficiencies and cause health complications.
- Healthier Skin
When you’re dehydrated, the skin becomes dry and is more prone to developing wrinkles. The skin works as a shield to prevent too many fluids from being lost.
Drinking lots of water throughout your day and using moisturizers will ensure that the skin can retain its moisture. Furthermore, you’ll notice that you develop more of a natural glow when you’re adequately hydrated, which makes you feel good.
- Get Rid of Headaches
Headaches, due to a lack of water, are a direct result of a limited quantity of oxygen and blood flowing to the brain. University Health News shows us, through a study, that dehydrated people experienced more frequent headaches and found it difficult to focus.
Increase your water consumption first thing in the morning and keep it consistent throughout the day to notice better concentration and fewer headaches.
- Stronger Muscles
According to Sciencing.com, muscle tissue comprises approximately 75% water. Therefore, being properly hydrated leads to better performance in athletic situations. However, if you are not drinking lots of water, your muscles become tired quicker, and you will be physically unable to function as well as you’d like.
During exercise, your body also loses water through sweat, so staying topped up on H2O before, during, and after intense activities is vital.
- Kidney Function
The kidneys filter liquids in the body every single day. The wasted fluid is expelled from the body via urine, with the rest being sent into the bloodstream. Water is integral to healthy kidney function.
Dehydration can prevent the discharge of fluids from the body, which leads to toxins flowing around the body. Unfortunately, in some very serious cases of dehydration, people’s kidneys fail, which becomes a life-threatening situation.
- Kidney Stones
The first reason people develop kidney stones is a lack of proper hydration.
Medical News Daily mentions a study where participants who had previously experienced kidney stones had to consume enough water to urinate two liters per day. This amount cut the chances of kidney stones reoccurring in half.
- Better Mood
Research carried out by the USDA shows that being dehydrated can make you more temperamental. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since the brain needs water to function at its best.
You can think better and feel uplifted by upping your water intake. Being in a better mood improves your quality of life, but the benefits of being happier are also linked with living a longer life. It means we’re less stressed. University Health News explains how stress can increase cortisol levels and other health issues.
- Bowel Function
Chronic constipation leads to most people looking to take laxatives and medication, but WebMD reveals there is a much simpler way to fix the problem. If you’re dehydrated, the intestines are forced to find fluids elsewhere in the body, resulting in difficulties in getting rid of waste.
Water is directly linked to the function of the digestive system, as well as to passing stools. Staying hydrated means the intestines can pass food through them with ease, and as a result, you minimize any complications with your bowel movements.
- Body Temperature
Water is the key when it comes to regulating the temperature of the body. The body’s acclamatory adjustment when its temperature rises is sweat, which helps cool the body down.
H2O can take on a lot of heat before changing temperature, which is why it’s crucial in helping our bodies adapt to sudden heat changes. For the body to manage the temperature, you need to keep it full of water to recover the fluids lost through things like sweat. Otherwise, you’ll end up dehydrated.
- Eliminate Bad Breath
According to Mayo Clinic, bad breath is a sign that your water consumption is likely to be low. So, start drinking more water if you still feel like your breath is dodgy after your morning brush.
Water removes the bacteria and food particles that may be left over, resulting in bad breath. Keeping the mouth moist by drinking lots of water will help to keep things moving and lessen the chances of bad breath.
- Cramp Prevention
One of the leading causes of muscle cramps is dehydration. As we mentioned, muscle tissue comprises 75% water; therefore, when there’s not enough of it in your body, the muscles cannot function well and cramp up easier.
This is especially the case among dehydrated athletes. So if you’re regularly experiencing cramps, aim to drink more water consistently and stretch. (Cramps may also be due to a lack of potassium, so it’s worth eating more bananas, too, since they’re rich in this mineral).
- Healthy Hair
The hair is compiled of cells, and since water can have significant effects on cells throughout the entire body, it can help to grow the ones regarding hair growth. In addition, the body cannot function to the best of its ability when you’re dehydrated, which means it’s less effective at transporting nutrients to the hair, thus making it grow.
Although the hair cells are still active follicles, which generate cells for water to target, drinking lots of water will keep your hair vibrant and healthy.
- Heart Function
When you’re dehydrated, the blood pumped around the body by the heart decreases and thickened. This means the heart is forced to work harder to get enough blood to the organs and muscles to ensure you can function.
Staying hydrated daily makes it easier for your heart to do its job. A healthy heart means a healthier body and increased chances of living longer too.
- Prevent Cancer
A study conducted by PubMed found that participants who stayed hydrated lowered their chances of colon cancer by 45%. Furthermore, research from the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that those who were properly hydrated reduced their risk of bladder cancer by 50%.
These studies indicate that increasing your water intake can act as a preventive measure against some forms of cancer.
- Joint Protection
Joint pains can come down to several reasons; however, one of the key motives people miss out on is their hydration.
Regularly drinking water and staying hydrated, the cartilage around the joints becomes softer and more protective. However, the cartilage needs to be able to absorb enough liquids, which come from the water you consume.
In other words, by staying properly hydrated, you’re keeping your joints lubricated to prevent any joint problems.
- Osteoporosis
This is a condition where the bones are extremely fragile, although it’s not painful. However, weaker bones mean they’re prone to breaking easily – It may sound shocking, but water can lend a helping hand here when it comes to preventing this issue from developing.
The Linus Pauling Institute conducted research where they discovered that participants who drank enough water to remain properly hydrated lowered their chances of osteoporosis and hip fractures.
- Improve Back Problems
The lower back is an area that causes the most amount of problems for people. Numerous reasons can cause the lower back to become injured or weak, including a lack of water.
The spinal disc towards the lower end of the back consists of water. Therefore, being dehydrated means restricting the spinal discs’ ability to do their job and keep your back healthy. Make sure you’re drinking lots of water to replenish the water in the back to lower your chances of serious issues.
Conclusion
Some people say you need to be drinking half of your body weight. Other authorities advise sticking with eight glasses of eight ounces of water daily since it’s easy to remember.
The trouble is, everyone is unique. Therefore, eight ounces of eight glasses of water per day may be enough for some but not adequate for others.
As a result, it’s a good idea to listen to what your body is telling you.
Clear urine color is one of the simplest ways to know you’re hydrated enough, as opposed to dark or very yellow urine that indicates dehydration.
Your body’s way of letting you know it’s dehydrated is by sending the thirst signal. Your daily aim should be to drink water consistently throughout the day until you find that you do not need to quench your thirst. This means you’re never giving your body the chance to dehydrate as the thirst mechanisms only trigger when you need to hydrate.
According to Authority Nutrition, we don’t need to think about being thirsty. It’s a natural occurrence. However, they also mention that older adults may need to make an effort to think about drinking water consciously – these mechanisms begin to diminish as we grow older.
The benefits of water can do wonders for your health and mind. Subsequently, you’ll notice that all aspects of your life are enhanced. By remaining increasingly focused, for example, you can become more productive and get more work done. Additionally, you can cherish time with your friends and family by being in a consistently better mood.
H2O is Mother Nature’s natural resource and is always available to us. So start drinking more water to improve your chances of living a happier, healthier, and longer life.
Jay
Jay is a health and wellness enthusiast with expertise in water quality and nutrition. As a knowledgeable advocate for holistic well-being, Jay successfully manages Type 2 Diabetes through informed lifestyle choices. Committed to sharing reliable and authoritative insights, Jay combines firsthand experience with a passion for enhancing health."
