Honest moment: I don't drink water. You know how some people find it super thirst quenching and love it? I don't. I actually find it quite boring. That being said, I know I need to be drinking water for health reasons. I've set a goal for myself to drink 60 ounces a day. To motivate myself to continue to meet this goal, I decided to look into what the actual benefits of drinking water are. The goal is not only inspire myself to reach my goal, but to allow you to also learn why staying hydrated is important.
Below are my top 10 benefits of drinking water.
1. It helps keep you alert.
Your brain is made up of mostly water, so when you're dehydrated, your attention span, memory, and motor skills are impaired. However, if you drink water you think, focus, and concentrate better.
2. It boosts your metabolism.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that drinking water increases your metabolic rate by 30%.
3. It improves your skin's complexion.
Water helps moisturize your skin, keeping it fresh, soft, glowing, and smooth. It also flushes out impurities, improves circulation and blood flow, which can make you look younger.
4. It helps to energize muscles.
If cells don't maintain their balance of fluids, your muscles begin to feel fatigued. Drinking water helps keep your muscles elastic, which in turn, energizes them.
5. It helps with digestion.
Water helps dissolve waste particles, allowing them to pass smoothly through your digestive tract.
6. It helps improve your mood.
Drinking water makes you feel refreshed, which can actually improve your state of mind.
7. It helps your heart.
Keeping your body hydrated helps your heart pump blood more easily through your vessels to your muscles. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, those who drink more than five glasses of water per day are 41% less likely to die of a heart attack.
8. It helps regulate your body temperature.
The thermal properties of water and its ability to release heat when sweat evaporates greatly helps to maintain an even body temperature.
9. It helps beat bad breath.
When you drink water, your mouth remains moist, as well as washes away food particles and bacteria. This helps dilute the smelly compounds that oral bacteria create.
10. It increases hair growth.
Water supports vitamin consumption, which assists in efficient and healthy hair growth.
With both my thyroid disorder and gastroparesis, I suffer from many things that water can help combat.
I'm hoping that through drinking water, I'll see in a difference in how I'm feeling.
Now, time to drink my 60 ounces!
References: American Heart Association / Greatist / Mind Body Green / Organic Facts / Shape / Stylecraze / Top 10 Home Remedies / WebMD