10 Reasons Why Drinking Water is a Good Idea

Few of us give water the importance it deserves. We have learned in school that our body is made of at least 60 per cent water. So, it is only logical that in order to keep our health in the best possible condition, we should drink as much water as possible, especially in view of the heat that can prevail here in the summer. In addition to the health aspect, there is nothing more refreshing that a tall glass of cool water on a hot, summer day.

Not taking in enough water can have a worse impact on your body than expected. The adverse effect of lack of water can range from the obvious dehydration and dryness of mouth to joint pain, urinary infections and even premature ageing.

We might think that drinking endless cups of tea and coffee can serve as a substitute for water, but this would be wrong. There is no substitute for water. In addition to moistening your skin and mouth, water serves to flush away the toxins in your body thus helping you to heal faster from diseases.

Intake of water is also a useful tool for weight loss. Many a time we mistake thirst for hunger and reach out unthinkingly for that extra bite which could add to that spare tire around our waists. Drinking water as soon as we get up in the morning and before meals has been proved to be a successful strategy to lose weight and keep it off.

Here are 10 reasons why you ensure that you are drinking plenty of water:

• To Counter Thirst: Man can go without food for over three weeks, but going without water is a different issue altogether. The maximum duration you can go without water is only week, and even that is a stretch.
• To Keep your Skin Smooth and Moist: The skin is the biggest organ in the body and needs to stay hydrated. In fact, dry skin is one of the first signs to look for when it comes to dehydration. If your skin becomes dry, it means you will not be able to sweat adequately to eliminate the excess oil and dirt that accumulates on the body.
• To keep Your Tears Flowing: Lack of water can lead to dry and bloodshot eyes. Lack of water can make your tear ducts dry up and this can really affect your eyes, especially if you wear contacts.
• To prevent Joint Pain: The percentage of water in our cartilage and spinal discs is about 80 per cent and water is desperately needed to minimize friction. Drinking more water makes it easier for the joints to accept the shock of sudden movements like running, jumping or sudden falls.
• To Keep Muscles in the best Condition: Muscles too have a high percentage of water and lack of water can lead to lower muscles mass. This is why drinking water should be an important part of your fitness routine, as it will help you to stay fit.

• To Boost Your Immunity and Heal Faster from Illnesses: Drinking water allows your body to continuously flush out toxins. Hence, an adequate amount of water is needed to keep your kidneys working so that they can keep flushing out toxins from your system.

• To Stay Energetic: Lack of water in your system can make you lethargic as when the body is dehydrated, it pulls in water from your blood and that leads to a whole host of secondary issues as this leads to general lack of oxygen causing sleepiness and fatigue.

• To Fight Hunger: This is where the weight loss angle comes in. Our body often mistakes thirst for hunger and we end up snacking. Eating food piles on the pounds while drinking water flushes out toxins and in general purifies the whole system, making the body more efficient when it comes to fat burning and all other processes.

• To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections: Lack of water can in the long run, lead to urinary tract infections. So, if you are not voiding 4-7 times a day and your urine is dark yellow instead of being clear or light yellow, it is high time you started drinking more water. 

• To Stay Young: Water plays a key role in keeping our skin firm and supple. Our tissues lose their capability to retain water as we age and the less water you drink, the earlier wrinkles will start showing. The damage to your insides is even more critical.

Many of us love drinking coffee and tea but we do not like drinking water. However, these drinks which contain caffeine, act as diuretics which cause you to lose water from your system. The best solution is to add flavor to water with a twist of lemon or a sprig of mint to make it more palatable.

How much water should you drink on a daily basis. Though the general advice is to drink eight glasses of water per day, requirements for water can range depending on your daily routine, the climatic conditions, your age, and your activity level. You need to listen keenly to the signals that your body sends you through thirst and replenish water as needed.

Generally, you are already a bit dehydrated when you feel thirsty, so you need to watch out for other cues like fatigue and hunger and even joint pains. The best solution is to drink as much water as you can on a daily basis, slowly upping your intake till you reach a healthy level.