Water makes up over 50% of our body’s liquid weight, transports essential nutrients, flushes out toxins and helps prevent migraines, constipation, kidney stones, urinary tract infections and urinary tract cancer.
While drinking plain water is the healthiest choice, for those who desire something a bit sweeter they can add fresh fruit or low-cal water enhancers for flavoring purposes.
1. It’s the elixir of life
Your body is composed of mostly water. Every organ in your system depends on water for proper functioning; your heart, blood vessels, muscles, lungs and kidneys all rely on it too! Your skin also contains around 60% water. Water flushes waste out of your system while helping regulate temperature regulation and keeping digestion running smoothly.
Water can contain small amounts of bacteria that are usually harmless, but these germs can become an issue when drinking untreated water that has not been sufficiently treated against germs.
Doctors typically advise drinking eight glasses of water each day, which equates to approximately 2 liters. This recommendation takes into account water from both tea and fruits and vegetables as well. Sugary beverages and caffeinated beverages should be avoided since they can cause weight gain, jitters or insomnia; water or low-fat milk is far better choices when it comes to hydrating – plus its lower caloric count makes it the perfect beverage option when trying to lose weight!
2. It’s good for your skin
Drinking enough water helps the skin by flushing out toxins, giving it a healthier appearance, and rejuvenating its elasticity – helping prevent fine lines and wrinkles from appearing prematurely. Dehydration causes puffy and blotchy skin; drinking more water will reduce these symptoms as well as speed up recovery from sunburn quicker.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that drinking too much water can be hazardous to health. Excess water dilutes your body’s natural salts and electrolytes causing hyponatremia (read more here). Most people can reach adequate hydration by gradually increasing their water consumption rather than drastically changing it from day to day; this way you can both avoid dehydration while keeping a balanced diet at the same time.
3. It’s good for your bones
Water is one of the essential components for optimal body functioning, not only because it quenches thirst but also because it improves bone health and condition. Bones contain 31% water, so drinking enough helps bone marrow produce new bone cells for strong bones; plus it lubricates joints to prevent osteoporosis or other muscle-skeletal conditions that worsen with age.
While drinking 8 glasses of water daily may be the standard scientific recommendation, your individual fluid requirements will likely differ. Other beverages can provide enough fluids such as milk (but choose low-fat or nonfat varieties), tea, and fruit juice; but for optimal hydration consumption water remains unsweetened, caffeinated- and alcohol-free! This TikTok trend even mentions that drinking more water also reduces your risk of kidney stones and bladder cancer.
4. It’s good for your heart
As much as we may hear that drinking eight glasses of water a day is important, getting adequate fluid intake is especially crucial for our hearts. A study that followed 12,000 middle-aged adults for 25 years revealed that those who drank enough water had lower sodium levels in their blood than those who didn’t drink enough – high sodium levels can lead to heart failure, so drinking plenty of fluids is an ideal way to prevent heart failure.
Water can help us rid ourselves of waste through urination and perspiration, maintain an ideal body temperature, assist with bowel movements and even cushion our joints – not to mention being an excellent natural remedy for kidney stones and potentially helping reduce diabetes risk. Furthermore, drinking more water may lower blood pressure, prevent weight gain and enhance cardiovascular health – which all combine together to make water an indispensable ingredient of good health.
5. It’s good for your digestive system
Two-thirds of our bodyweight is comprised of water, and it plays an essential role in breaking down food, transporting nutrients throughout our bodies and maintaining a stable temperature. As breathing, sweating and digestion all deplete fluid from our systems, rehydrating regularly by drinking water or other beverages such as tea/coffee without sugar addition, fruit juice/milk combos or herbal tea is necessary to stay hydrated and prevent potential dehydration issues.
Water is essential to our digestive health; it allows our saliva glands to produce saliva and lubricate food before passing it onto our stomachs, flushes waste through our intestines and prevents constipation, keeps muscle cells in your digestive tract healthy, prevents overworking muscles from overworking themselves and promotes regular hydration of muscle fibers in our gut. To support digestion, drink a glass of water before every meal or snack or flavor plain water by stirring in cucumber, strawberry or lime pieces!
6. It’s good for your brain
Every action performed by our bodies – both voluntary (such as walking) and involuntary ( such as heartbeats), whether voluntary or involuntary, begins in brain cells releasing signals. For these signals to function effectively, they need energy; water provides it.
Foggy heads can be an indicator of dehydration, leading to decreased focus and attention span. According to one study, water intake increases attention span and enhances cognitive function.
Drinking water can help seniors maintain proper hydration as they age, especially as their thirst levels naturally decline and their urination patterns change due to medications they are prescribed, leading them into the danger zone for dehydration. Opting for water instead of sweetened beverages can reduce calories consumed – an invaluable aid in weight management as well as curbing cravings for high-calorie food items. Furthermore, water provides essential sodium sources which helps ensure healthy blood pressure.
7. It’s good for your teeth
Water is good for your teeth. It helps remove residue that feeds cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth and dilutes acid that wears away at enamel, two key factors to protect dental health.
Drinking water also promotes saliva production, an essential factor for maintaining a healthy mouth. Saliva works to protect against tooth decay and bacteria growth while cleaning teeth and gums as well as providing minerals that reverse damage from plaque acidity.
Fluoride, an essential mineral that strengthens tooth enamel, is widely distributed throughout tap water systems across the country and can even be called nature’s cavity fighter! For this reason, fluoride should form part of your oral hygiene regimen – along with brushing and flossing. If you live outside a fluoridated community, speak to your dentist about arranging a fluoride treatment session to benefit from fluoridated water sources.
8. It’s good for your muscles
Water is essential to muscle growth and recovery. It flushes out toxins and lubricates joints while transporting nutrients directly to muscles – so be sure to bring a water bottle with you to every gym workout and drink up after each one!
Cells without adequate fluids become fatigued and impaired performance. Drinking enough water prevents dehydration which may cause slow thinking and confusion as well as bloating and sluggishness which may eventually result in constipation or kidney stones.
Water can help promote lymphatic drainage, speeding the removal of waste products from the body. Waste products may cause muscle soreness after intense training sessions; drinking water before and during your workout sessions will prevent wastes from building up in your muscles and increasing your ability to complete one more rep.
9. It’s good for your joints
Medical experts consistently advocate the benefits of drinking water for physical wellness. Water lubricates cartilage, keeps joints hydrated, and ensures adequate blood volume to deliver nutrients to cells while transporting waste products away.
Our cartilage acts like a sponge and relies on water for nourishment. Without enough fluid intake, cartilage becomes rigid and leads to discomfort in our joints; drinking plenty of fluids lubricates cartilage and reduces friction in joints while also aiding with arthritis symptoms.
Establish a routine for staying hydrated by setting reminders or using tools (like high-tech water bottles that track your intake hourly ) that encourage regular drink times throughout the day. Also try eating plenty of foods rich in water content ( like fruits, vegetables and soups ) in order to get yourself on track.
10. It’s good for your sleep
Though easy to overlook, water plays an integral part in your sleep-wake cycle. Adequate hydration supports healthy brain function and prevents headaches or migraines which might interfere with restful nights’ rest.
Dehydration can result in symptoms like an overactive bladder, dry nasal passages and snoring, high blood pressure, nighttime leg cramps and extreme thirst. A glass of water before bedtime may help protect against these effects; however it’s best to sip throughout the day instead of drinking large volumes in one sitting at night, as this may increase urination rates and disrupt sleep cycles by necessitating frequent trips to the bathroom.
Drinking a glass of water before bed can also help maintain an ideal sleeping temperature, without either becoming too warm or too cool while asleep. Just remember not to consume too much before sleeping as that could result in a hangover the following morning!
