We all know the daily individual requirement for water per person is 8-glasses. But despite knowing this, we are always either dehydrated or replacing water with other less healthy beverage options. However, no drink can ever come close to providing the same kind of benefits that water does.
Water intake shouldn’t necessarily be preceded by thirst, as our bodies also require water for maintaining other functions of the body. In winters, it is common for many people to forget to drink water because they feel less thirsty. You should be drinking water for reasons other than just quenching your thirst, and no matter the season.
Below are 5-reasons why you should be hydrating regularly and the benefits that you stand to gain from this healthy habit.
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Helps Remove Toxicity from the Body
Water can help rid the body of toxins in the form of urine. Regular hydration helps you stay active and fresh throughout the day. People who suffer from substance dependency issues have a lot of gunk and toxicity in their systems.
Years of substance use can cause serious damage to the internal systems of the body. Kicking the habit requires checking into a treatment facility, like the Delphi Health Group, renouncing substance abuse, and a commitment to persevere through the withdrawals.
Many former users feel hungrier when they quit. But oftentimes the feeling subsides after the recovering person drinks a glass of freshwater. Drinking more water, and frequent bathroom visits will eventually rid the body of toxicity faster.
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Improves your Digestive System
For your digestive system to work efficiently, you must drink sufficient quantities of water. Water is essential for a smoother bowel movement, and if you are constantly dehydrated, you might get constipated or your stomach acidity may dramatically rise.
In extreme cases, this can cause stomach ulcers or heartburn. Most people are unaware that constipation is commonly caused by dehydration. Minerals found in water, such as sodium and magnesium, improve the frequency and consistency of bowels in constipated people. Upping your water intake will prevent you from experiencing digestive problems.
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Prevents Diseases
Drinking water reduces the risk of many diseases. One such disease water may prevent is kidney damage. Water helps in removing toxins and waste from the blood. Drinking less water may increase your risk of kidney damage.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and the occurrence of kidney stones are two common causes of kidney failures. Dehydration is at the root of both of these conditions. Dehydration leads to electrolyte imbalance which can eventually cause the kidneys to fail, which can be fatal in certain conditions. The kidneys maintain blood electrolyte levels by filtering around 120-liters of blood every day. People who have a UTI should drink plenty of water to ensure their condition does not worsen.
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Enhances Physical Activity
Staying hydrated will improve your physical performance and energy levels. Without drinking enough water, you will feel exhausted. Athletes are the most at risk of dehydration when they don’t take enough water because they are constantly losing fluids in the form of sweat.
During an intense bout of training, a person can lose a lot of water through sweating. Hydration for athletes then is a lot more important because they usually lose 6-10% of the water through sweating alone.
If you don’t drink enough water to make up for the fluid loss, you will begin to feel tired, your temperature will start to rise, and your body will begin to break down. You might start feeling dizzy and pass out.
To avoid this, make sure you have a bottle with you at all times when you go for your workout. Sipping water here and there in between will make sure that you don’t lose too much water in sweat.
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Increases Brain Function
Not only does drinking water improve your physical performance, but it also improves your mental well-being. Your brain can get affected by low water levels in the body. Many studies show that even mild dehydration can cause your brain functions to deteriorate. Dehydration can cause headaches, erratic mood changes, loss of concentration, and elevation of anxiety levels. With sufficient water levels in the body, your mind will stay sharp and active throughout the day.
Final Thoughts
Drinking water is that simple yet often neglected habit for living a healthier life. Even though some people are aware of the positive health benefits of staying hydrated, they just can’t get enough water due to the lifestyle choices they make.
Setting up reminders, keeping a bottle on you at all times, and making the conscious effort to hydrate regularly, are some of the ways we can ensure that we drink up to 8-glasses a day. The above-mentioned reasons for why you should drink more water barely scratch the surface of why hydration is important and the benefits that we stand to gather from adopting this healthy habit.
