The Importance Of Drinking Water

We all know that water is an important part of life. It’s what keeps us functioning. However, life gets busy and we can easy forget to drink enough water. 

The general recommendation for water intake is between 8-12 glasses of water per day, and more if you are sweating or in a hot environment. Are you regularly drinking 8-12 glasses a day? If you are, then bravo! But the majority of people (including a lot of our patients) are not. 

Included below are some reasons why drinking water is so important as well as some tips to help even the busiest of people remember to drink water throughout your day.

10 Reasons Why Water Helps Your Overall Health:

Regulates Body Temperature

Your body loses water through sweat with physical activity in order to keep your body cool. If you don’t replenish the water that is lost, then your body temperature will rise if you’re not hydrated.

Lubricates Your Joints

Water is a component of synovial fluid, which is the fluid that is found within your joints. This fluid cushions your joints and prevents your bones from rubbing together, which can be uncomfortable and painful.

Helps With Nutrient Absorption

Not only does water help with food breakdown, but it also helps to dissolve key vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from your food. It then delivers these nutrients to the rest of your body.

Prevents Headaches

A side effect of dehydration is headache or migraine that can be limited by drinking water. Research has shown to alleviate headache pain as well as shorten the duration and intensity of headaches.

Helps You Lose Weight

Drinking water can help you feel more full especially when you drink a glass before a meal. This may help you eat less during your meal, and in turn help you lose some weight. Increasing water intake can also help to reduce the urge to snack throughout the day.

Aids In Brain Function

Dehydration can cause problems with memory, attention, and energy. Since water is an important factor in electrolyte balance, dehydration can also cause muscle weakness, fatigue, and confusion if your electrolytes are off because of limited water intake.

Boosts Energy

Drinking more water may change your metabolism, which increases energy level. If you’re not drinking enough water, you may feel sluggish or foggy.

Improves Mood

Not getting enough water can affect your mood, resulting in fatigue, confusion, anger, or even anxiety.

Clears Skin

Water helps to keep skin and other tissues hydrated, and may also promote collagen production. This means clearer skin to give you that natural glow.

Prevents Dehydration

Dehydration is the result of not drinking enough water throughout the day and can have dangerous consequences. Severe dehydration can result in swelling in the brain, kidney failure, or hospitalization. It is important to increase your water intake especially if you are sick or sweating more than usual.

Tips To Help You Drink Water Throughout The Day:

Now that you know exactly why drinking water is so important, here are some tips that have helped all of us at the office drink more water throughout the day.

-Carry a water bottle wherever you go and make sure to continuously fill it up.

-Track your water intake. You can buy a water bottle with hash marks that'll tell you how much water you should drink and at what time of day you should drink it by.

-Make it a competition among friends or co-workers to see who can stay on track with drinking water throughout the day.

-If you don't like the taste of water add some extra flavor. Just make sure you are looking at the ingredients of what you put in your water. Propel powder packets is a good option for adding flavor to your water.  

For other health tips and advice, click here to check out some of our other recent blog posts!