Water is often taken for granted. We drink it, use it to cook and clean, and don't think twice about the fact that we need it to live. It's easy to forget that water has many functions in your body. Including heightened mood, weight loss and hydrated skin! Keep reading for the main reasons why water is liquid gold.
Water Has 5 Main Functions in The Body
Water is essential for life. It is normally the main component of our bodies, making up about 55%-60% of our total weight. Water helps with digestion, circulation, absorption of nutrients and excretion of waste.
Water also transports nutrients and oxygen around the body. In fact, it helps with all body processes including:
- Thinking and memory (neurotransmitters)
- Vision (retina)
- Respiration (lungs)
- Circulation (heart)
- Urine excretion (kidneys)
Water Consumption for Active Lifestyles
You need to drink even more water than the average person if you want to live an active lifestyle. That is because water helps to cool down the body after exercise and keeps your joints lubricated. It also helps keep your skin healthy and hydrated, which makes it easier to sweat during exercise. More sweat = more toxins released and expelled!
Water Can Help You Lose Weight
If you're trying to lose weight, befriending that water bottle and carrying it with you at all times is a great catalyst to shed some pounds. When your body is dehydrated, it's more likely to crave high-calorie foods and snacks that can sabotage your fat-loss goals. Water has been shown to help with weight loss in a few ways:
- Feeling full: Because water helps keep us fuller for longer periods of time, you are less likely to overeat because you full sooner. By drinking plenty of water throughout the day and eating slowly at meals (which also helps), we can stop ourselves from overeating by feeling fuller before our brains have finally caught up with our stomach and realize we are full.
- Burning calories: Drinking enough water may even help us burn more calories simply by keeping our bodies performing well throughout the day! In one study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that those who drank two cups of water right before sitting down for lunch burned an additional 15 percent more calories than those who didn't drink water before their meals—and they were able to eat just as much!
Dehydration Has Negative Effects on Your Mood
Dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating. It can also cause nausea, dizziness and other symptoms that are not usually associated with dehydration.
The most common signs of dehydration include:
- Thirst - If you're thirsty then you've probably already been dehydrated for some time. The body is actually able to sense water deficit long before it reaches a dangerous level. As soon as you start to feel thirsty you should drink some water immediately!
- Dry mouth or throat - A dry mouth is one of the most common signals that your body is signaling dehydration. As the body's cells become more and more dehydrated they will pull water from anywhere they can get it including from your tongue and throat leading to dryness.
Water Is A Crucial Part of Life, and is Best to be Aware of Your Hydration Levels So You Can Be Healthy and Happy
Water plays a vital role in the body. It's important for everything from digestion to brain function and blood circulation.
In fact, water is so essential for life that it's often called "the most important nutrient." Without enough of it, you can develop serious health problems like dehydration, edema (swelling), and electrolyte imbalances.
We hope this article has made you more aware of the importance of water in your life. From helping you lose weight and staying active, to maintaining a good mood, there are many health benefits associated with drinking enough water every day. Have I made you thirsty enough to reach for that glass?
