10 Lifechanging Reasons to Drink More Water in 2021
Last Updated on March 4, 2021 by zahidul
In many ways, water is life, and it is something that many of us forget about or don’t pay much attention to. We need to drink it every day, and it is a commonly known fact that we don’t consume enough of it. Things like cups of tea and coffee don’t count either, as the caffeine actually causes dehydration as you continue to consume it. Water is essential, and drinking more of it can change your life in numerous positive ways. Here are the top ten reasons you need water in your life.
#1 You Need Water to Live
It is a crucial part of living, and without it, we won’t last very long. Depending on your environment, you can only live up to three days without any water, or maybe a week if you are in a colder climate. Food, on the other hand, we can last much longer without. As a result, we should all be focusing more on our water consumption a lot more than we currently do.
#2 Maintains Balance of Fluids
You might not know this, but 60% of your body is made up of water. Water plays an essential role in every part of our bodies and the processes that they go through. Whether it is digestion, absorption, circulation, the maintenance of body temperature, or the transportation of nutrients, water is there to help things go smoothly.
If your body starts to lack fluids, your brain will slow down in terms of function and processing, causing severe headaches and migraines. By drinking enough water each day, you can maintain the balance of fluids in your body and ensure that things continue to function smoothly.
#3 Keeps Your Skin Healthy
Your skin also contains a lot of water that works as a protective barrier to prevent the loss of excess fluid. Dehydration can leave your skin looking drier and more wrinkled, as well as causing it to crack if it is not cared for and moisturized.
As a side note, moisturizer can help to lock moisture into your skin, creating a barrier to keep everything hydrated. However, if you keep hydrated you can prevent this dry and wrinkled look from happening in such an extreme way (although it won’t stop ageing). There is no need to worry about excess fluid either, as your kidneys will take over and ensure that it is dealt with.
#4 It Helps Weight Loss and Calorie Control
Water has frequently been used as an aid to weight loss, as well as a substitute for food in many diets. It doesn’t have any instant effects on weight loss, and it cannot be used alone (starvation diets do not work in the long run), but when you substitute high-calorie beverages for water, it really does give you a hand.
Eating water-rich foods that are healthier and more filling means that you will be eating fewer calories and therefore help you lose weight. This is because the food with a high water content looks larger and requires more chewing, and the addition of needed more time to be absorbed by the body means that it will help you feel fuller.
Some examples of water-rich foods are fruits, vegetables, broth soups, oatmeal, and beans. It should also be noted that many of the times you feel hungry, your body is actually thirsty. So, have a glass of water and see how you feel afterwards. Similarly, a glass of water 20 minutes before each meal can help you feel fuller faster.
#5 Ensures Your Kidneys are Looked After
Your organs need water to function properly, and that includes your kidneys. They are used to cleanse your blood and transport toxins out of your body through urine. When you have enough fluids in your body, your urine will flow freely and have a very light, almost clear, color, as well as being free from odor.
If you do not have enough water and fluids in your body, the concentration, color, and odor will be massively increased because the kidneys will have to tap into extra fluids in order to perform bodily functions. In addition to this, those who drink too little on a chronic level are at much higher risk of things like kidney stones – especially if they live in warmer climates.
#6 Keeps Your Bowels Regular
Ensuring that you are hydrated also means that things will keep going smoothly along your gastrointestinal tract. This ensures everything is regular, but also prevents constipation from occurring. Constipation happens when you don’t get enough fluids, and the colon pulls water from stool to maintain hydration. Making sure that your diet is rich in fiber and water means that you have everything functioning on a smooth and regular basis.
#7 Reduce Stress and Boost Mood
Stress is an awful thing, and many people suffer from it on a daily basis. Things like stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on your health, skin, and muscles – especially when you consider the tension that it causes. In fact, it is the tension that causes damage to your skin because the nerves are unable to relax properly.
Drinking more water means that the nerves around your skin cells are able to relax more than they were before, leading you to feel calmer and rejuvenating the appearance of your skin. It can also relax your muscles, and help boost your mood as it rehydrates your brain and gets things working properly again.
#8 Reduce the Appearance of Acne
Acne is not fun to have, and the first thought you might have is to pick up some medication or cream to put on the affected area. These can be great, but they can also lead to your skin becoming dry and cracked. Water is not the cure for acne (there is no real cure), but it can help to reduce the appearance quite a bit, and even reduce the scarring that it causes. All you need to do is make sure you drink plenty of water each day, and this is because it helps to clear your body of toxins and can help to boost the healing process. It can also reduce the amount of excess oil in your skin, helping to reduce any future outbreaks.
#9 Boosts Brain Function
Your brain can only work as well as it is hydrated, and when it doesn’t have enough water, it won’t be able to function as well. There are plenty of studies that show even mild dehydration can impair many aspects of brain function. In both men and women, dehydration can increase the frequency of headaches, impair mood and concentration, and also increase feelings of anxiety and fatigue. Regardless of age, dehydration has a negative impact on the brain, and this is why it is so important to keep hydrated.
#10 Helps Prevent Cancer
There is actually research that shows staying hydrated can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50%, and potentially reduce the risk for breast cancer as well.
How Much Water Should You Be Drinking?
There are loads of different studies and opinions about how much water we should be drinking every day. Generally speaking, the most agreed option is to ensure that you have two liters (8-ounces) of water. This is also known as the 8×8 rule, as you should be drinking eight glasses of water each day, which equals 8-ounces.
On the other side, there are some health experts that feel we are persistently on the edge of dehydration and should be sipping water constantly throughout the day, even when you are not feeling thirsty. Of course, this all depends on the individual as well, including activity levels and other needs that will affect the overall water requirements.
Signs You are Not Drinking Enough Water
If we take a basic perspective, you are on your way to becoming dehydrated when you are drinking less water than is leaving your body. Here are some of the key indicators that your body is becoming dehydrated:
- Headaches/migraines
- Joint pain
- Stomach aches
- Ulcers
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Water retention
It is normal for your body to lose water throughout the course of the day, and even the simple act of breathing uses up water as it lubricates the lungs. However, most of the water in your body is lost through the skin and when you use the bathroom to urinate and defecate. As a result, you need to keep your body fully hydrated.
It can sound like quite a shocking and almost dramatic concept, but even a very slight case of dehydration has a massive toll on the body. It can be linked to anger, depression, and general feelings of confusion. As we have mentioned before, it can also impair brain function, and things like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (or ME) have been linked to dehydration.
If your mouth feels dry and you have begun to get thirsty, you are already in the first stages of dehydration. As soon as that happens, you just need to drink a glass of water as soon as possible.
To Conclude
Hopefully, this has helped you to learn more about the ways in which drinking more water can boost your life and your health – ensuring that you lead a better and happier life. Not drinking enough can impact your mind and your organs in a negative fashion, leading to dehydration, and even death. It is essential that you take the time to drink more, and ensure that you are getting the right amount for your activity levels and body. Water is a key part of living a long and healthy life.
