Photo by Vitalii Pavlyshynets on Unsplash
People are always telling you that you need to drink more water, but you just keep forgetting, or maybe you find that a Diet Coke is better for quenching your thirst than plain, tasteless water.
The reason we keep hearing this advice is because it works (and it’s 100% necessary for survival). Staying well-hydrated on a regular basis really does give life-changing benefits to your body, both inside and out.
Getting Your H20
For those of us lucky enough to have clean water supplied directly to our homes, there’s no reason that we shouldn’t be drinking our gallon+ per day. If you’re not sure about the quality of water in your home, invest in a water filter jug or special tap that filters the water at the source. Take a look at this article to find out what could be causing your water to taste weird and what you can do about it.
Still skeptical? Here are just five of the many benefits of drinking more water:
Improve Your Memory
Our bodies are made up of about 60% water so it’s important that we keep our levels topped up. Even just being slightly dehydrated can affect your memory and ability to concentrate.
So if you want to get that mental edge at work, you know what to do!
Reduce Headaches
Headaches can strike for a number of reasons, so if you’re a person who finds themselves getting frequent headaches and migraines, make sure to reach for a big drink of water (as well as the ibuprofen). *I’m not a medical professional and this is only a recommendation from my opinion.*
Control Your Appetite
Your body often finds it difficult to distinguish between hunger and thirst. The problem is, we often reach for a sugary treat before we think about reaching for a glass of water. When you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first, and see if your hunger subsides. I’ll be honest, this happens to me all the time!
Being hydrated is also an important part of weight maintenance and weight loss. Having water before and with meals can help you feel full quicker, so you’ll (generally) eat less.
Lower Your Risk Of Bladder Infections
Women get a raw deal when it comes to bladder infections; we are much more prone to urinary infections than men. Luckily, drinking water can reduce the frequency and severity of cystitis and kidney infections.
So remember to drink a lot of water and urinate frequently during the day! This is the best way to push out the bacteria. *If you feel like you have an infection, see a doctor as soon as possible. Antibiotics are needed when an infection is present.
Improve Your Performance At The Gym
Exercise makes us sweat, and most of us know to rehydrate after a workout session. But it’s important that we hydrate before exercising, too! Hydration makes a big difference in how we feel during and after a workout.
Having a good level of water in your body can be the difference between a mediocre session and a great one. The more water you drink, the more stamina you’ll have to get through your workout.
How Much Water Do You Need?
The general consensus is that the average adult needs half of their weight in ounces of water per day (ex: if you weigh 200 pounds, you need to drink 100 ounces of water daily). Ideally, this should be plain water, but other drinks without sugar are acceptable. Try not to drink too many diet drinks as even though they contain fewer calories, they are full of synthetic sweeteners.
If you’re exercising or in a hot climate, then you’ll be losing much more water through sweating, so you will need to up your daily intake.
•Do you drink enough water? What do you do to make sure you’re consuming enough water?
Thank you for reading!
