Drink For Your Health: 6 Reasons to Up Your Water Intake

Ever wonder why you feel so much better after drinking a glass of water? It’s no secret that H20 is good for you. Since it’s easily accessible and super affordable, there’s no excuse not to load up on it. It’s worth mentioning, however, that the old suggestion to drink eight glasses a day was nothing more than a guideline, not a rule based on scientific evidence.

Try this trick instead: Start your day by drinking a glass of water, then consuming more around 30 minutes before each meal. Keep a 1.5-liter water bottle handy and take sips from it throughout the day. If it starts to bore your taste buds, add a couple of slices of lemon or orange to keep things interesting.

Need more convincing that you need to stay hydrated? Here, six health benefits that’ll encourage you to drink up:

Water keeps your body running.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, water helps regulate your body temperature, keeps your joints cushioned, protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and gets rid of waste through sweating and peeing. It’s essential for virtually every bodily function!

It fights off fatigue.

One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is tiredness. It, of course, makes sense to drink more water to zap that general feeling of fatigue and sluggishness. If you’re an athlete or a gym rat, then you know that water is essential in preventing dehydration, especially during a tough workout. It also helps maintain fluid balance in your body—important in aiding athletic performance and preventing post-exercise exhaustion.

Water gives you clearer skin.

Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. Dehydration, then, makes your skin appear dry and wrinkly. Combat this by drinking lots of water, coupled with using a good moisturizer to create a physical barrier that locks moisture in.

It aids in weight loss.

Numerous studies have found a connection between water consumption and dropping a few extra pounds. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can definitely help. Plus, drinking a bottle or glass before each meal can simply make you feel fuller sooner.

It keeps your kidneys healthy.

Your kidney needs enough fluid to sift out waste from your body and carry urine to the bladder. Help it function well by staying well hydrated. Your reward? Lower risk of disease. A study by the University of Sydney in Australia has found that people who consume the most fluids have a significantly lower risk of chronic kidney disease.

Staying hydrated puts you in a better mood.

In a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, mildly dehydrated young women experienced headaches, fatigue, worsened mood, and difficulty concentrating. Counter this just by drinking water—it’ll instantly make you feel refreshed, improving your state of mind!