Drinking water is good for your body and mind. It helps you to be more energetic, have improved moods and restful sleep, as well as better memory. Drinking water also comes with plenty of physical benefits too! If you’ve ever wondered why drinking water is good for you, then we’ve rounded up the expert opinion to settle the matter once and for all.
Here is why you should be drinking water daily, how much you should drink, whether you can drink too much and how to up your water intake during the hotter months.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
While the question “How much water should you drink?” is a common one, there are some misconceptions about the answer to this question. The amount of water that you need depends on your diet, temperature and exercise habits.
The amount of water you need will be different depending on a number of factors. These include your weight, height and activity level. You should also think about what types of food you eat and how often you exercise.
The amount of water that someone needs varies from person to person, but the general guideline is about eight glasses per day. It’s important to drink water with food because water helps break down food for digestion. Water is the most vital ingredient for survival because it has over 20 different functions in the body, such as regulating body temperature and transporting nutrients and oxygen to cells. To maintain steady levels of hydration, you should drink about 2 litres of fluid per day.
It is recommended that people have at least 8 cups of fluid each day, and this can include drinking sparkling water, juice, milk, coffee or tea. Just be warned that too much caffeine can actually dehydrate, so try to limit your teas and coffees.
Tips for Staying Hydrated in Hot Weather Conditions
There are many reasons why staying hydrated is important. It helps the body function efficiently, prevents muscle cramps and headaches, and keeps skin clear and healthy.
One of the biggest challenges to staying hydrated in the warmer months is that we often crave cold drinks like ice water or iced tea. The good news is that there are ways to still stay hydrated during hot weather conditions: drinking cold beverages at room temperature or adding some lemon or cucumber slices for flavour. Also, try making your own iced tea with cool water instead of hot tea so it will be ready when you need it most! Drinking sparkling water can also be an option for those who don’t like still.
Is it Possible to Drink Too Much Water?
While rare, it is possible to drink too much water if you drink more than your body needs and it could lead to a condition called hyponatremia – or excessive water consumption.
If you drink more water than your body needs, it could lead to a condition called hyponatremia which is when there’s too much water in the blood and not enough salt. This leads to symptoms like confusion and seizures that can be fatal. As mentioned, excessive water consumption is a rarity but if you feel as though you may be constantly thirsty then talk to a medical professional. Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, can lead to a feeling of constant thirst and then excessive water consumption.
8 Reasons Why Drinking Water is Good for You
There are countless benefits to drinking water daily, all backed by experts. Here are just some of those numerous reasons why drinking water is good for you!
1. Drinking Water Increases Energy Levels
Drinking water increases energy levels because it helps to hydrate the body. The human body is made up of 60% water, and without enough water, the cells in the body can’t function properly. This will lead to an increased risk of fatigue and a decrease in energy levels.
Water is the world’s best energy drink – and, for many around the world, it’s totally free. Drinking water daily can boost our energy levels better than any cuppa coffee, so make sure you’re drinking enough.
2. Water Helps Prevent Dehydration
Drinking water is the best way to prevent dehydration.
Water helps to keep your body healthy and prevents it from getting dehydrated. If you don’t drink enough water, your body cannot function properly. It may lead to headaches, stomach pain, and sometimes even dizziness. Drinking a lot of water is important for the health of your skin too.
While dehydration is a concern for anyone, those who are more sensitive to dehydration include athletes who sweat a lot or work outside during hot weather conditions, people with heart disease or lung disease that affects breathing, young children and older adults.
3. Drinking Water Prevents Muscle Cramps
If you enjoy sports and exercise, then drinking a lot of water before or after is essential for you as well. It will help prevent muscle cramps and spasms in the muscles that are not used to sudden activity like the neck muscles.
Muscle cramps are caused by dehydration. When you don’t drink enough water, your body will send a message to your brain that your muscles need more fluid, which leads to muscle cramping – especially at night when you’re sleeping! Those who exercise frequently will find that drinking water daily helps reduce muscle cramps.
4. Drinking Water Helps Maintain Productivity and Mental Alertness
Drinking water is not only necessary for your physical health but also for your mental health. It maintains our body’s hydration levels and helps to keep us alert.
Keeping yourself hydrated can help you stay more productive at work. In one study, scientists found that drinking water throughout the day improves mental acuity, increases focus, and reduces fatigue.
It can be difficult to stay hydrated throughout the day when you are constantly on the go. But there are plenty of ways to make sure that you are drinking enough water every day, such as taking a few minutes every hour to go get a glass of water so that it becomes ingrained in your routine.
5. Drinking Water can Boost Heart Health by Increasing Blood Volume
Drinking water is essential for humans to keep hydrated and healthy. After drinking water, it should take about 30 minutes for the water to be absorbed into our blood stream. In most cases, the body can absorb about 1 litre of water into the bloodstream per hour.
A healthy blood volume = a healthy heart, so water is essential for your heart health.
6. Water Can Improve Brain Function by Replenishing Brain Cells
Drinking water is vital for a healthy lifestyle, but did you know that it can also improve brain function?
Drinking water not only gives your brain energy, it also improves the performance of your brain cells.
Drinking plenty of water can improve brain function. This is due to the fact that water helps with the hydration and replenishment of brain cells.
If you are feeling sluggish or have a headache, it may be because your brain is not getting the fluids it needs to function properly. Drinking more water will help stop the dehydration from happening, and will help keep you healthy in both body and mind for years to come.
Water refreshes our minds and bodies by improving moods and giving us more physical energy throughout the day. It also helps our brains function better by increasing blood flow to our brains which boosts concentration levels and memory.
7. Drinking More Water Promotes Healthy Skin
Drinking water is not only good for your overall health, but it also promotes healthy skin.
This is because drinking water has a lot of benefits for the body including helping to hydrate cells which gives skin its elasticity.
Water has been proven to be helpful in treating a number of skin conditions. It is also an important component in maintaining the moisture balance of the skin and soothing acne-prone skin. Drinking more water should be part of a healthy lifestyle and can help promote healthy skin.
8. Drinking Plenty of Water Assists in Digestion
Upping your water intake is a simple way to improve digestion.
The fluid that is ingested and absorbed by the small intestines and colon aids in digestion. The body needs fluids to break down food, move it through the system, and eliminate waste. Water helps regulate the body’s temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Humans can survive for weeks without food but only for a few days without water.
The best time to drink water is when you feel thirsty or when you feel hungry instead of waiting until you are already feeling these symptoms. If you’re thirsty your body may be telling you that your cells are dehydrated because they are lacking one of their most important resources – water.
As mentioned, there are so many health benefits to drinking more water and ensuring you get at least 8 glasses per day. Try increasing your water intake to the recommended amount and (once you’ve gotten over rushing to the toilet every few minutes in the beginning) you should see these health benefits start to show.