How Drinking Water Benefits Your Health

Reader Contribution by Jennifer Landis
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You might be a fan of having coffee and orange juice with breakfast, soda with lunch and maybe a cocktail or glass of wine with dinner. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but switching out some of those beverages with a glass of water is one of the best things you can do for yourself!

Water is basically magic elixir for the human body. There are endless benefits to drinking a glass (or multiple glasses) of water every single day! Even just being in water gives your body a burst of life that only water can give.

So, now that you know that water is great, let’s talk about exactly why it’s so awesome:

Your Body Is Made Out of It

Your body is already 60% water! Keeping up this hydration is vital to maintaining the fluid balance in your body. When you don’t drink enough water, your body dehydrates, which prevents it from regulating its temperature, digesting properly and transporting nutrients. Staying hydrated also helps prevent muscle cramps and joint pain.

Helps Weight Loss

Drinking water can actually help you lose weight! If you drink water before and during a meal, it helps you feel more full so you don’t end up overeating. It’s also easy to think that you’re hungry when you’re actually just thirsty.

Drinking a glass of water instead of reaching for the chips is a healthier way to fill your stomach and satisfying cravings. It also boosts your metabolism, so it’s the all-around best bet for those of you trying to get that beach body.


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Gives You Energy for Exercise (and Life!)

Obviously, drinking water during exercise is extremely important. It replaces the hydration you lose when sweating and working out. Most people do already drink water when they’re working out — especially when it’s a hot, outdoor workout.

However, it’s also important to drink enough water during your workouts in the winter months. These colder workouts don’t make us as thirsty, so we think we don’t need water. However, it’s still important to stay hydrated, because you’re losing just as much fluid.

Makes Your Skin Glow

Drinking enough water flushes out those nasty toxins that give you breakouts and clogged pores. This helps keep your skin clean and fresh in an all-natural way! Rinsing your skin with water also helps the skin itself hydrate, which helps keep it firm and bright. These benefits apply to your hair, too! Rinsing your hair in cool water helps your tame your hair, and make it shine.

Aids Digestion

Enough water intake helps keep things moving and promotes a healthy digestive system. Staying hydrated helps the kidneys flush out waste and prevents constipation. It also adds fluids to the colon. TMI? You’ll thank us when your bathroom trips are care-free!


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Cures Hangovers

If you weren’t drinking water the night before at the bar, you’ll want to hit the tap the next morning. Alcohol dehydrates you, so rehydrating helps get rid of that nasty hangover and even the headache that comes with it. Additionally, try drinking a glass of water during your wild night out to reduce your hangover symptoms the next day.

Provides Pain Relief

Ice and cold packs provide relief for sprains and strains by reducing blood flow and swelling. Often, athletes use ice baths to treat muscle damage and recuperate after exercise. It’s a particularly good solution when performing long exercises in the heat.

On the flipside, hot-water soaks can relieve some types of chronic pain. For people with back pain, waterbeds can provide relief for a restful night’s sleep.

Provides a Perfect Workout Space

Ever tried working out in water? Exercising in a pool or another body of water is actually great for you! It provides a low-impact alternative to on-land activities like running and weightlifting. There are even group exercise classes you can take! Exercises like aqua yoga and aqua cycling are becoming more and more popular as people realize the benefits of exercising in water.

Decreases Anxiety

In multiple ways, water helps our anxiety levels. Living near water leads to good health and a higher satisfaction with life. Staying hydrated also helps improve overall mood and helps us sleep more soundly. Also, the sound of running water and waves is extremely soothing. It can lower our pulse and blood pressure, which both rise when we listen to noises such as screeches and car horns. Spending time in water, like a warm bath, releases oxytocin to make your feel warm and relaxed, taking away feelings of sadness and anxiety.

Overall, being in water, drinking water and even being near water can drastically benefit your health and your life. Keep a water bottle with you on a daily basis to encourage yourself to drink enough water. Even set a reminder on your phone or calendar if you have to so you can ensure you’re drinking enough, It’s a natural and healthy way to stave off illness and keep your body up-to-par. So what are you waiting for? Drink up!

  • Published on Aug 11, 2016
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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