Whether you grew up drinking from a hose outside or you ran in the house for an ice-cold bottle of spring water, you know that hydration is important. Intense exercise or high temperatures increase the need to drink more water than the standard 8 glasses of 8 oz. per day. It’s common for those exerting a lot of energy to lose 6-10% of their body weight through sweat.
Dehydration will noticeably affect you, even if you lose as little as 2% of the water content in your body. Lack of water causes your body to alter temperature control, increases your fatigue, and reduces your motivation to get up and accomplish tasks. Muscle is approximately 80% water and your brain is up to 90% water, so staying hydrated keeps you moving and thinking your best.
Benefits of staying hydrated:
1. Helps prevent or treat headaches
Dehydration can trigger headaches and migraines. Every person is different, but if you are suffering from frequent headaches, it is worth trying to up your water intake to alleviate the pain.
2. May help relieve constipation
Increase your fluid intake if you are struggling with this issue. Drinking plenty of water will benefit you and your digestive system, especially if you are unsure whether you are drinking enough water.
3. Contributes to weight loss
Water helps you feel full and boosts your metabolism, increases your energy, and reduces fatigue. Drinking 17 ounces of water has been shown to increase metabolism by 24-30% for up to 1 ½ hours. When you drink the well documented 64 oz. of water a day, it can increase your calorie burn by 96 calories a day. While this may not seem like a lot, it’s close to 700 calories a week. Timing is everything. Drink water half an hour before you eat a meal to get the best results.
4. Helps treat kidney stones
If you’ve ever experienced the pain of a kidney stone, you know it’s something you never want to go through again. There is some evidence that raising your water intake contributes to diluting the concentration of minerals in your system, which can reduce your risk for kidney stones.
5. Flushes out toxins
When you’re properly hydrated, your body flushes out toxins. The fewer toxins you have in your system, the better your skin looks, the fewer cramps you experience, and the fewer illnesses you will suffer.
The bottom line is that your body is a machine. You would not expect a machine to function properly without the correct fluid and care needed for maintenance. You cannot expect your body to operate at peak performance without the fluid required to keep everything functioning.
Good tasting, clean water is also needed to entice you to drink more. Give us a call for a free evaluation of your home’s water system to determine the best way to keep you and your family reaching for another glass.