There are a myriad of approaches you could take to reach optimal health and wellbeing but by far one of the simplest and most accessible is the simple act of drinking enough water. Water accounts for 60 percent of your body and is essential to every cell. Even your bones are composed of more than 20% water!
The fact is, water is crucial to your overall wellness; it’s an essential carrier of important nutrients, hormones, and waste throughout the body—so avoiding dehydration is a must. And while you might have heard the adage “drink 8 glasses of water a day”—there are a few facts about staying hydrated this National Hydration Day that you probably didn’t know about:
Fatigue is a Marker of Dehydration
If you don’t drink enough water each day—you will feel tired. And even though the body might interpret that tiredness as your body needing more energy in the form of food (or coffee!), this tiredness can actually be related to your body not taking in enough fluids. Your body will function more efficiently with enough water in the “tank”.
Thirst Pains Are Real
Most of us have experienced hunger pains, but did you know that you can also get thirst pains? Water is needed to carry acidic waste away from the body’s cells, and when we haven’t had enough water these wastes don’t get carried away—leading to our nerves interpreting the acidic waste as pain.
Water Easily Outperforms Your Best Cleanser
Don't underestimate the power of water—science tells us that if the outermost layer of the epidermis doesn't contain enough water, the skin will lose elasticity and feel rough. Drinking water will hydrate your body from the inside out and since one of the best anti-toxins is water it also helps flush toxins naturally out of your body.
Hydration Boosts Physical & Mental Performance
Dehydration can lead to impaired body temperature control, lower motivation, more fatigue, and make exercise feel much more difficult. When you’re well-hydrated, the water inside and outside the cells of contracting muscles lubricates joints, provides adequate nutrients, and removes waste efficiently. Plus, since your brain is mostly water, drinking water supports clear thinking, focus, and concentration levels.
Proper Hydration Can Be Preventative
If you’ve forgotten to drink water for most of the day, guzzling down 8 glasses before bed won’t make up for the lost time (and will keep you up all night!). In this way, it’s important to maintain healthy hydration habits by drinking a little water frequently throughout the day. This is because when the body is hydrated, healthier functioning and transportation of nutrients are restored. On the other hand, when the body is dehydrated, the elimination of wastes is diminished.
Keep these hydration facts front of mind as temperatures continue to rise this summer, listen to what your body needs and head to the water cooler on a mission to keep your body’s water intake in perfect balance.
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