We all know the dangers of dirty water, but today we want to highlight the benefits of regularly drinking and having access to clean water. With its usual use for drinking, hygiene, recreation, and sanitation, water is our most precious global resource and the centers for disease control and prevention helps to ensure that it stays clear of all contaminants by outlining drinking water regulations.
Water plays many roles in your body, including maintaining electrolyte balance and blood pressure. The human body is made up of about 60% water. The science surrounding drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is unclear, but we know staying hydrated is important to your health and wellbeing. There are many health benefits to drinking clean water and here are some of the best ones to keep in mind:
Benefits of Water
- Balanced pH–The pH balance, also known as the acid-base balance, is the level of acids and bases in your blood at which your body functions best. Acidity and alkalinity are two things the human body is built to maintain. Therefore, drinking Alkaline water offers health benefits. It helps slow down the aging process, regulate pH levels, and prevent various chronic diseases. Alkaline water refers to neutralizing acid levels in the body, which normal water cannot do. For example, when a woman gets pregnant, she loses a substantial amount of alkaline minerals to the fetus. The alkaline water is a great way to keep the ph balanced during pregnancy and it helps with fertility.
- Healthy Skin and Nails–Collagen production and hydrated skin are a product of frequent, healthy water intake. With even mild dehydration, the skin can become vulnerable to skin disorders and premature wrinkling.
- Healthy Hair–Drinking a lot of water helps with healthy and shiny looking hair. Water maintains healthy nerve endings in the scalp and keeps hair roots healthy. Give strength back to your hair by drinking water. Dry hair looks straight, slack, and lifeless.
- Regulates Body Temperature–The middle layers of the skin store the body’s water. During exercise, or when the body becomes overheated, this water rises to the skin’s surface as sweat and helps cool the body through evaporation. The water stored in the middle of the skin comes to the surface as sweat and acts as a cooling agent after the body heats.
- Promotes Organ Health–Minerals and nutrients dissolve in water. Lack of water can cause a build-up in the kidneys and develop into stones. Vital organs must work much harder when waste products accumulate in the kidneys than usual. These issues potentially lead to chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. But consuming the proper amount of water helps keep the kidneys and other organs healthy and functioning effectively.
- Aids In Weight Loss–Water can boost your metabolic rate and increase satiety. Increasing your water intake promotes weight loss by increasing your metabolism. This can also increase the number of calories you burn daily. Studies have linked body fat and weight loss with drinking water in both overweight girls and women. Water before eating also helps in weight loss because it gives the body a sense of fullness.
- It Makes The Digestive System Work–Drinking water before, during, and after a meal will help your body break down the food you eat easier. This will help you digest food more effectively and get the most out of your meals.
- Gives Us Minerals & Other Nutrients–Minerals and nutrients dissolve in water, which enables it to be sent to other parts of the body. Drinking enough water is essential for optimal nutrient absorption.
- Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids–The kidneys can adjust the concentration of the urine to reflect the body’s water needs, conserving water if your body is dehydrated or making urine more dilute to expel excess water when necessary. ADH is a hormone that helps the body to keep water by increasing water reabsorption by the kidneys.
- Water Helps Energize Muscles–Water helps energize muscles and flush lactic acid after workouts. Water helps cells maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes, an imbalance can cause muscle fatigue.
Here’s How To Drink More Water Water
Adequate water intake is beneficial to good health. Here are some methods you can try to help with drinking more water:
- Set Goals–Setting goals can motivate you to make positive changes that last. To be effective, the goals must be attainable, realistic, and specific.
- Drink water before meals–Make a habit of drinking one glass of water before each meal. It is a simple way to increase the amount of water you drink and have you feeling fuller, longer. Also, sometimes your body may mistake feelings of thirst for hunger and drinking water before the meal will let you know the difference.
- Eat more foods with high water content–Fruits and vegetables are high in water content. Lettuce, cabbage, watermelon, cantaloupe, and zucchini are all high in their water content. Besides its water content, these fruits and vegetables are significant contributors to your overall health. It packs them with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Get a water filter–The United States is lucky to have one of the safest public water systems. Therefore, the water from the tap is often safe drinking water, however, if you have a problem or you are concerned about the quality of the water you can get awater filter. Filtering your water can improve the taste and remove contaminants. Using a water filter is more eco-friendly and less expensive than bottled water, which is purified water.