immune system boosting

Water – Your Secret Weapon For Better Health

Most articles written about weight management, health, fitness and longevity include water as one of the most important components to a wellness lifestyle. But why is water so important, and what happens when you don’t get enough water each day?

Your body is over 60% water, and your brain and heart are 70% or more, so it’s obvious that not taking in enough water can compromise your daily body function (including immune system function). We lose water when we breathe, sweat or urinate, and that’s why we need to take in at least half our body weight in ounces of water per day to be truly healthy and give your body what it needs to thrive.

Here is a baker dozen of ways drinking water improves your health and wellness:

  1. immune system boostingDrinking water helps your immune system function better. It is important to keep hydrated on a regular basis, especially when it’s cold and flu season. Keep your immunity up by drinking plenty of water to stave off infection. Staying hydrated helps your body naturally eliminate toxins and other bacteria that may cause illness.
  2. Drinking water helps you regulate your weight. When you don’t drink enough water, your body feels like you are parched, and retains water in your body, which makes you weigh more. Drink enough water, and your body won’t hold onto it, reducing your body weight.
  3. Drinking water gives you more energy. Even slight dehydration robs you of vital energy and makes you feel groggy.
  4. Drinking water helps you to focus. Dehydration impairs your brain’s ability to work properly, but enough water gives you a better memory and longer attention span.
  5. Drinking water decreases your risk of stroke. A recent study shows that not only does dehydration hinder the healing process after a stroke, but it can actually contribute to the probability of stroke.
  6. Drinking water puts you in a better mood. Research at the University of Connecticut showed that dehydration made test subjects tired and cranky and increased their headaches.
  7. Drinking water helps to manage hunger. If you feel hungry, often that is a feeling of needing more water – have some water, and see if your hunger abates. It’s a great way to hit your target weight.
  8. Drinking water reduces headaches. Dehydration is a common cause of headaches, and taking in enough water often solves the problem.
  9. Drinking water gives you better skin. Insufficient water causes the collagen in your skin to begin to break down, so fine lines and wrinkles are more obvious – water plumps your skin. And, it affects your inner membranes as well, preventing dry mouth, dry eyes and so on.
  10. Drinking water keeps you from wearing out early in your workout. Water is necessary to turn carbohydrates into energy and break down fat. Have enough water before, during and after your exercise, and you will have more stamina.
  11. Drinking water makes it easier in the bathroom. Dehydration often leads to constipation – if your body is lacking water, it will reclaim any available water through your colon, making the dried waste harder to expel.
  12. Drinking water helps your kidneys. The water dilutes the blood so the kidneys can filter it better. Not enough water makes the filtration sluggish, and can even lead to kidney stones.
  13. Drinking water helps your heart. Your heart has to pump harder when your blood is too thick, so enough water means that your heart doesn’t have to work so hard.

So, there are at least a dozen reasons your body needs water – you can drink a glass or two when you wake up, a glass or two with or in between meals, and a glass or two or three between dinner and bedtime, to keep yourself hydrated. There is no excuse to not drink enough water now while you’re spending time at home. You’ll see, you’ll look better, feel better, and your body will work better for longer. It’s like your secret weapon for better health!