Benefits of Drinking Enough Water

Are you drinking enough water? According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the answer may be “no.” In fact, 43 percent of adults drink less than four cups of water a day. That’s a big problem, especially during the summer months.

The Benefits of Drinking Enough Water

Our bodies are mostly water. Depending on the source, the human body is either 60 or 80 percent water. Either way, that’s quite a lot of liquid! The key to survival, nutrition and proper health is keeping ourselves hydrated. Here are just a few of the benefits of drinking enough water:

• It helps to maintain proper blood pressure, which can improve heart health and brain function. A lack of water can cause headaches and brain fog, so drinking enough water will help you to be healthier and sharper.
• Water helps your body eliminate waste products. The less waste you have, the better you’ll feel.
• Staying hydrated keeps your skin more vibrant and healthy. A lack of water can lead to premature wrinkling and a greater tendency toward skin disorders.
• Water helps to lubricate and cushion your joints, which can lead to less wear and tear. When combined with a low-impact exercise like swimming, this can help keep you strong and healthy. To learn more, check out our full blog post about the health benefits of swimming.

Hydration Helps Everyone

As you can see, drinking enough water has plenty of benefits. That’s important not just for adults, but also for kids as well. In fact, it is perhaps even more important for children. During the hot weather, kids are far more likely to be exercising and swimming in the scorching heat. This makes them excrete a lot of liquid from their bodies. You see, the heat makes us sweat more than usual, which depletes our bodies of precious life-giving resources, such as sodium and potassium.

How Can I Remember to Drink Enough Fluids?

The actual amount of water each of us requires varies from individual to individual. Overall, your thirst is the best guide you have. Listen to your body. That sense of thirst you will eventually feel is a warning sign. You’ve begun to lose too much fluid and it needs help. The trick is to prevent dehydration before it happens. That means drinking before you become thirsty.

Let’s talk about some ways to ensure you’re taking in enough fluids:

• While out and about, always carry a reusable water bottle. This will provide easy access. You may even find you’re drinking without realizing it. For an extra cool treat, freeze the water overnight or add some ice cubes. It’ll be even more refreshing in the hot sun.
• Don’t rely on soft drinks or coffee. These drinks may quench your thirst in the moment, but water is the best way to prevent dehydration. The sugar and corn syrup in soda can cause a number of health problems. As far as coffee, this drink is a diuretic and can cause you to go to the bathroom more than is needed, depleting your body of nutrients. So instead of that caffeine boost you may be hoping for, your energy levels could actually drop from these beverages. Play it safe and stick with some nice cool water.

Overall, water is an essential building block of our lives. Unfortunately, far too many of us ignore it during our daily lives. When it comes to taking care of yourself, keep a water bottle close at hand. Sipping regularly during the day can have so many health benefits.