Five Reasons to Start Drinking More Water
Health experts and professionals agree that drinking enough water every day is extremely important.
As poet and essayist W.H. Auden said, “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” However, water does a lot more for you than ensure your survival. You might be surprised by how much proper hydration can benefit you. In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons why you should start drinking more water.
“Water, air, and cleanliness are the chief articles in my pharmacy.”
-Napoleon Bonaparte-
Why you should drink more water
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends drinking at least two liters of water a day to stay healthy and hydrated.
Drinking too much water can actually be dangerous for your health, but not drinking enough is also a problem. There are many reasons why you should stay hydrated:
Drinking water helps you perform at full capacity
When you exercise, you sweat, which can lead to dehydration. If you lose just 2% of your bodily fluids, your performance can suffer significantly. You can feel tired, your body temperature may go out of whack, and you may lose motivation. In addition, doing any kind of physical activity when you’re dehydrated is much more physically and mentally difficult. Consequently, replenishing fluids is essential for your health and well-being.
Some studies show that proper hydration helps you avoid all of these negative consequences. As an added bonus, it can also reduce the oxidative stress that often accompanies high-intensity activity.
Drinking water enhances cognitive function
Your hydration levels have a big impact on cognitive function. Studies show that even a modest level of dehydration (between 1 and 2%) can affect concentration, mood, and even cause headaches. Scientists have also found that moderate fluid loss increases feelings of fatigue and anxiety and affects working memory.
Water transports nutrients
Although water doesn’t have any nutrients on its own, it can absorb some minerals and carry them to different organs. For example, bottled mineral water sometimes contains minerals that the body needs, such as sodium, magnesium, and calcium.
This vital liquid is also responsible for transporting nutrients to your cells and helping eliminate cellular waste products.
Water helps regulate your body temperature
Water absorbs and transfers heat inside your body. In fact, it’s the human body’s main heat-regulating mechanism.
Water has a relatively high heat absorption capacity. That means that the fluid in each of your cells can act as a shield against sudden temperature changes. This is also why experts recommend drinking a lot of water in hot climates.
Drinking more water can help treat and prevent headaches
Dehydration headaches can feel like intense migraines. Some people only experience them if they’re severely dehydrated, but other people get them easily and frequently.
Dehydration tends to be the main cause of migraines for many people. However, new studies have shown that water can be an effective way to treat and prevent headaches that are unrelated to this condition.
How much water should you drink every day?
Most scientists and health professionals agree that the amount you should drink depends on your sex, weight, level of physical activity, and the climate you live in.
Although calculating this amount can be difficult, technology has made it easier. Now there are many apps that not only help you keep track of how much water you drink during the day, but also tell you how much to drink according to all those variables.
It’s important to mention that you can also complement your water intake with other healthy options such as teas, juices, smoothies, milk, yogurt, soups, and even fruits and vegetables.
