Nothing symbolizes or gives life more than clean, clear water. Without the benefits of drinking water, your body will shut down within 3 days. Besides breathing, water is one essential element that you must consume daily in order to stay alive and function properly. How much water do you really need and how will it benefit your health?

What does water actually do for you and why is it necessary for survival? 55% of your blood is made up of plasma (the liquid part). 92% of plasma is made up of water. Your blood, carries nutrients to the cells in your body to them alive and functioning properly. Water also helps to flush toxins and dead cells out of your body. In addition to providing nutrients and flushing out toxins, water aids in properly digesting food and in cushioning the joints. Your organs depend heavily upon water in order to maintain their proper functions.

Water is found in juices, soups, coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables, and other foods we drink, but some of those foods and drinks are known as diuretics, which tend to flush water out of your system and lead to dehydration. To be certain that your body has plenty of water to function properly, you should drink in ounces, half of your body’s weight in pounds on a daily basis. For example, if you weight 120 lbs, you should consume a minimum of 60 oz. of water in various forms every day. If you’re pretty active, you might need even more water than that. Keeping up with drinking that much water isn’t easy to do, so we’ll include some ways to help you drink more water throughout this article.

We’re going to lay out 15 actual benefits of drinking water and how much you need, but obviously, drinking water is not an all inclusive cure, which can replace consulting with a health care professional.

Precautions for Drinking Water

You would think that there wouldn’t need to be any precautions for drinking something that is so pure. Typically, that’s the problem. For water to be of any benefit, it must be pure and not be a source for introducing toxins into your body. The only way to be certain of the purity of the water you drink is to test it for chemicals and heavy metals. You should also be aware that distilled water is not good for you either and is potentially dangerous. Being conscious of the purity and quality of your water will help you to reap a number of benefits.

The Actual 15 Benefits of Drinking Water and How Much You Need

Regulates Body Temperature

One of the benefits of drinking water is that it helps to regulate your body temperature.

What to do:

• Drink between 8 oz. and 16 oz. of water when you first get out of bed, after breakfast, and before and after each of your other meals.

How it works:

Keeping your body hydrated allows for the production of sweat to keep you cool and helps to increase blood circulation to your extremities to keep you warm.

Promotes Healthy Skin

Promoting healthy skin is yet another item on the list of benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Add a squeeze of citrus juice to your water if you tend to need a little more zing to keep you interested.

How it works:

Staying hydrated increases blood circulation through the capillaries in your skin, which moisturizes the tissue, makes it more elastic and helps to clear out dead cells and toxins.

Aids Digestion

Another of the benefits of drinking water is that it aids your body in the process of digestion.

What to do:

• Drinking 8 to 16 oz. of water before eating and consuming water during or after your meals is extremely important.

How it works:

Maintaining a proper level of hydration assists your body in metabolizing the nutrients that you are putting into your body and eases the process of getting rid of the waste that your body need to expel.

Purifies Blood

Among the top benefits of benefits of drinking water is found in the way it helps to remove toxins from your blood.

What to do:

• Adding spices, especially those with capsaicin, to your diet will often cause you to want to drink more water. Capsaicin is a catalyst for carrying nutrients to the cells and toxins away from them.

How it works:

One of water’s major functions is to carry dead cells and toxins that have entered into your blood stream away from the cells where they can be disposed of properly.

Improves Cognitive Function

Improving your memory and cognitive function is another of the benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Carry a bottle of water with you everywhere you go, especially at work. We tend to drink more water when it is close at hand than if we have to make an effort to go get it.

How it works:

Your brain is composed of 75% water, keeping fresh water circulating through it helps it to function properly.

Prevents and Relieves Muscle Cramps

Preventing and relieving muscle cramps is also one of the benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Drinking pickle juice is one of the best ways to hydrate whenever you’re having muscle cramps.

How it works:

Though dehydration is not the primary cause of muscle cramps, staying hydrated helps reduce their occurrences and decreases their intensity.

Relief from a Hangover

Rather than taking in more of the hair of the dog that bit you, another of the benefits of drinking water is relief from a hangover.

What to do:

• When you go out on the town, consider alternating between alcoholic drinks and water throughout the night.

How it works:

Most of the symptoms you are feeling when you have a hangover is from the effect of dehydration which comes from consuming too much alcohol.

Relieves Fatigue

If you find yourself becoming easily fatigued, you might want to consider the benefits of drinking water to give yourself a boost.

What to do:

• Consuming cucumbers, lettuce, melons and celery as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack are great ways to boost your hydration, because they contain more than 90% water.

How it works:

One of the first signs of dehydration is fatigue. Fatigue is a result of low water content which causes your organs, especially your heart, to have to work harder.

Cardiovascular Health

Believe it or not, improvement of your cardiovascular health is another of the benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Besides drinking 8 to 16 oz. of water after you get up and before and after meals, you should also consume that amount of water before and after going out into the sun for an extended period of time and/or before and after exercise.

How it works:

Chronic dehydration is a significant contributor to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which are both detrimental to heart health. In fact, staying properly hydrated has a greater effect on cardiac health than lowering fat and cholesterol intake.

Alleviates Headaches

Getting rid of a pounding headache or migraine is another of the benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Substitute sparkling water or carbonated water on occasion just to keep things interesting. Carbonated water adds the additional benefits of relieving upset stomach, reducing constipation and lowering blood pressure.

How it works:

Headaches, like fatigue, are a major indicator of dehydration. Drinking water can help to eliminate them and/or reduce their intensity.

Prevents Obesity and Promotes Weight Loss

Preventing obesity and promoting weight loss are another of the benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Drink 16 oz. of water prior to eating and drink another 16 oz. while you’re eating your meal.

How it works:

By filling your stomach up on water before eating, it helps you to feel fuller to begin with and reduces your appetite. In many cases, thirst, rather than hunger is what your body is really craving.

Healthier Hair

Another of the benefits of drinking water is that it is great for helping to maintain healthy hair and scalp.

What to do:

• Some people carry a water bottle with deadlines or goals marked on the bottle, which is just one more idea to help busy, goal oriented people stay hydrated.

How it works:

Keeping the nerve endings in your scalp hydrated not only promotes healthy hair growth, but can help you to avoid thinning hair, split ends, brittle hair, and heat and chemical damaged hair.

Reduction of Inflammation

Another on our list of benefits of drinking water is the reduction of inflammation.

What to do:

• Never allow your water bottle or water glass to be empty. A full glass or bottle encourages drinking.

How it works:

Besides lubricating joints that are inflamed by arthritis, drinking water helps to keep the pH level in your body in a proper balance. Inflammation is typically higher when acid content is too high.

Improves Your Mood

It might not be common knowledge, but improving your mood is another of the benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Drinking herbal teas with chamomile, mint, fennel, valerian root, and also green tea not only reduce stress, anxiety and depression, but also help increase your water intake.

How it works:

Besides fatigue and headaches, another of the major symptoms of dehydration are depression and irritability.

Gets Rid of Cellulite

Getting rid of cellulite is probably one of the most surprising benefits of drinking water.

What to do:

• Making and drinking coconut water with unsweetened coconut will not only make it more interesting but will add a whole other level of great benefits for your body.

How it works:

Much of the problem with cellulite is not only connected to being overweight, but also to toxins and inflammation. Drinking water helps clear out the toxins and keep the tissues healthier and more elastic.

Easy Ways to Drink More Water Every Day

With so many incredible benefits of drinking water, it’s time to stay hydrated. Are you struggling to stay motivated or need some strategies to up your water intake? If so, here are some easy ways to drink more water.

Drink Before Eating a Meal

While you’re preparing good, have a glass of water with you to sip on as you cook. By drinking more water while you’re busy, this will keep you hydrated and ensure your energy levels are constant. Plus, you’ll automatically pick up the glass without even thinking about it. Filling up with water before eating is also an effective way of reducing the amount of food you consume since you’re not eating on an empty stomach.

Make Water Easy to Access

If you have water right next to you, you’re more likely to drink it than having to leave the room and head downstairs to fill your glass. Each time you notice your glass is empty, refill it before waiting until your thirsty. Invest in a bottle that you fill with tap water (or filter it if you wish) and store it in the fridge. Having water readily available makes you more likely to drink up.

Eat Foods Bursting With Water

Many nutritious foods contain water, making it even easier to up your water intake. Eat more fruit and vegetables, such as watermelon, grapefruit, cucumber, and zucchini. All of these foods are made from over 90 percent water and are a great way to sneak in some extra vitamins and minerals to your daily diet, too.

Download an App To Keep Track

Apps aren’t all bad. Many are beneficial to your health and help you to reach your goals. Daily Water Free is a highly-recommended app that sends you reminders of when to drink up. It also tracks the amount of drink you consume each day, helping you to stay on track.

Conclusion

The benefits of drinking water are enormous when it comes to maintaining your overall health and reducing serious health risks. Though these 15 benefits of drinking water are well known for treating or improving certain conditions, all body functions perform better when the organs, which carry them out are well hydrated. If you are truly serious about your health, drinking plenty of water is a primary step in meeting your wellness goals.