Forget soda and juices, here’s the best drink for your body that you should drink everyday
The human body comprises more than 50% of water, so it’s important to keep it fresh and topped up to keep the body working properly. Remember, once the body’s water requirement is not met, it has various unfavorable short-term and long-term health consequences.
Suppose you have been dehydrated for a long period. In that case, it can lead to several health problems like rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, angina, colitis, dyspepsia, hypertension, obesity, hemorrhoids, ʙʀᴇᴀsᴛ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ, pulmonary tuberculosis, kidney stones, sinusitis, and worst is ᴜᴛᴇʀɪɴᴇ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀs.
Help your body to better avoid these conditions by drinking water after waking up and keeping your body hydrated throughout the day. Keep reading for 10 reasons why there is just no substitute for plain old H2O
1) Water helps our brainpower. Healthline cites a study which showed that even very mild dehydration can impair aspects of our brain function. Another study showed that fluid loss of just over 1% in young men was detrimental to their working memories, and it led to higher rates of anxiety and low moods.
2) Your tummy will be healthier. According to Body and Soul, your stomach needs three key things for good digestion: fiber, exercise, and water. It keeps waste moving along your digestive tract properly and helps to prevent bloating.
3) It can lower your risk of cancer. Research has shown that being well hydrated can reduce your risk of ᴄᴏʟᴏɴ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ and bladder ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ by 45 – 50%, and it has been linked to a lowered risk of ʙʀᴇᴀsᴛ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ too, according to Breaking Muscle.
4) Water contains no calories! Just think of the savings when you reach for a glass of water instead of a soda or a natural juice, which both land at around 150 calories (sweetened juice has twice as much!) according to WebMD. The same goes for food—foods that are high in water content are bigger, healthier, and more filling because they are absorbed more slowly by the body. This includes foods like fruit and vegetables, oats, beans, and broth-based soups.
5) Water relieves constipation. It may be embarrassing to talk about but constipation is a very common issue, and one of the key treatment protocols is to consume more water. According to Healthline, constipation is particularly high in those with low water intake, so drinking plenty of water will act as both a preventative measure and a treatment option.
6) Your kidneys need water to clean your body. Our kidneys are in charge of keeping our bodies free of toxins, and it is fluid that allows this process to happen. According to WebMD, the main toxin in our body is blood urea nitrogen and it is water-soluble, meaning that if we have enough fluids then our kidneys easily flush it out via urine. And on that note, urine is a good indicator of whether you are well hydrated. It should be light in color with little odor. If you are dehydrated, urine tends to be darker with a stronger smell.
7) Water is essential for healthy skin. Our skin is our largest organ and it needs to be well hydrated. The American Skin Association recommends drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day to keep your skin soft and clear. Water allows the skin to regenerate new cells more quickly, and to keep our pores clear and regulate our body temperature by sweating. Dehydration can cause dull, dry skin, and premature wrinkling.
8) Water makes us stronger. As explained by WebMD, when our muscle cells don’t have enough fluid our electrolytes shrivel, making our muscles feel tired. This means your water intake is especially important when you are exercising, and drinking water a couple of hours before exercise will allow your muscles to be at their best. It’s important to drink small amounts regularly throughout exercise, too, to replace the amount you are sweating out.
9) It helps with joint pain. You may have heard of glucosamine, a common supplement which helps with joint pain. What you may not know is that glucosamine aids in the cartilages ability to absorb water, so once again, water is the key ingredient in keeping your cartilage soft and hydrated, says Breaking Muscle.
10) You’ll be less hungover. According to Healthline, alcohol is a diuretic and it therefore causes you to lose more water than you take in. It feels counterintuitive because you’re drinking so much liquid, but no one can argue with that awful, dry-mouthed thirst you wake up with. A good way of combatting dehydration, and therefore lessening your hangover, is to drink one glass of water between each alcoholic drink you consume, and to ensure that you have a big drink of water before bed.
