Remember that amazing moment in elementary school when you learnt that roughly 60% of the human body was filled with water? Make sure you never forget that figure.
In the last few years we’ve heard that it’s recommended we drink at least 8 cups of water a day. We’ve also heard there is no real scientific basis behind this claim. However, there are many reasons why you should keep properly hydrated.
– Help maintain fluid balance: during the day we use water for many things: digestion, saliva creation, transportation of nutrients, etc. The water used must be replenished for the correct functioning of the body organs. Once you feel thirsty it means you are already dehydrated.
– Calorie control: there is no super secret ingredient in water that will make you lose weight, but consumption of water will help you avoid high-calorie beverages and make you feel full reducing your hunger.
– Muscle energy: when the cells in your muscles don’t get enough water performance goes down significantly and your muscles get tired. Try drinking water before, during and after you exercise.
– Better-looking skin: being properly hydrated will reduce the appearance of pimples and will flush out skin toxins. For a soft, glowing and smooth skin drink lots of water.
– Productivity booster and fatigue fighter: water helps us maintain alertness and avoid tiredness, a common symptom of dehydration.
– Digestion and kidney function: water will prevent constipation and aid digestion and is also indispensable to kidneys while they work their way through toxins and flushes them out.
– Hangover help: we are all familiar with that acute morning headache after a night out in the city. Alcohol consumption will get you down, but a few glasses of water can really make a difference.
– Sickness fighter: helping with congestion and dehydration when the body is ill, water consumption can help get over a cold (though it’s definitely not the only remedy).
There are, of course, many more reasons, but there is also one warning: too much water consumption can also be bad for you; don’t go over 3 or 3.5 litres per day. It’s recommended you drink enough water to produce colourless urine and for that you’ll need to always carry your own water bottle with you.