From the stuff we drink and swim in, to the steam that eases congestion and the ice that reduces swelling, water is all around us (and even in us). Heck, it kind of is us. “Water makes up about two thirds of who we are, and influences 100 percent of the processes in our body,” says CamelBak hydration expert Doug Casa, PhD. That probably explains why we feel better when we’re drinking enough of it. To learn exactly how water is helping us, as well as some creative ways to use it, check out these 34 reasons why you should go hydrate right now.
1. It could aid weight loss.
Anyone looking to lose weight could be helped by upping their water intake. Studies have found that when participants drink water before a meal, Extra H2O helps us eat less by making us feel full, and it may also . CamelBak hydration advisor Kate Geagan, RD says it’s not uncommon to put on weight by mistaking thirst for hunger, and she offers this pro tip: Next time you feel fatigued or sluggish, “drinking water may be just what [you] need to perk up.”
2. It powers our warm-weather exercise.
With the proper precautions, working out in the heat is usually fine—and staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do. The hotter the workout, the sweatier we tend to get, so it’s extra important to those lost fluids. Determining informs good rehydration strategy: “Once an athlete [knows his or her] sweat rate, they can begin to practice replacing these fluid losses in training and be optimally prepared for [athletic exertion],” says Casa.
3. It keeps things moving, digestion-wise.
Water helps us, you know, go by helping fats and soluble fiber. Drinking enough water prevents and also reduces the burden on the kidneys and liver by helping to waste products. Geagan breaks it down: “In the large intestine, water binds with fiber to increase the bulk of the stools, reduce transit time and make elimination easier. When you don't drink enough water and fluids, the colon pulls water from stools, increasing your risk of constipation.”
4. It helps endurance athletes fight fatigue.
Water is an integral part of most any workout, and it becomes especially important in order to prevent dehydration during long workouts. When exercising for an hour or more, drinking water treated with carbohydrates and salts can help maintain fluid balance, which
5. It might protect against some types of cancer.
Research has found that the greater the fluid intake, the lower the incidence of , with more significant results . One possible reason could be that urinating more frequently prevents the buildup of bladder carcinogens. Staying hydrated may also and .
6. It can improve mood.
Drinking water makes us feel so refreshed that it actually improves our state of mind. You don’t even have to be severely in need of it to benefit: Even mild dehydration has been shown to .
7. Fun, frozen workouts are great for you.
When it’s too snowy or icy to go for a run, or you want a workout that’s as fun as it is good for you, find yourself some frozen water. Try ice skating for a low-impact workout that challenges your balance, get in some hill-work while , get a full-body workout while , or improve your with snow-shoeing.
8. Drinking it may help prevent headaches, naturally.
Going without water for too long causes headaches for some people, and has been identified as . The good news is that , participants experienced “total relief” from their headaches within 30 minutes of drinking water (two cups, on average). Geagan says a good way to prevent headaches is to stay hydrated throughout the day. And if you’ve already been hit with a dehydration-triggered headache, you’ll need significantly more water to help it go away. She recommends drinking two to four cups of water for headache relief within one to two hours.
9. It keeps our kidneys working.
remove waste from our bodies, help control our blood pressure, and balance fluids, so they’re crucial to keeping our systems running smoothly. One surefire way to keep them working properly? Adequate ! So drink up to keep those kidneys in tip-top shape.
10. It energizes us.
Next time you’re feeling zonked, try drinking a couple glasses of water. Feeling is one of the first signs of and filling back up on H2O .
11. Soda water makes healthier cocktails.
Fizzy water is a staple for healthier versions of favorite boozy beverages. Using seltzer water and fresh fruit instead of sugary mixers makes for a delicious, better-for-you drink (that can also help prevent dehydration).
12. It may help keep us alert.
If you’re going to need to concentrate for long periods of , keep water handy to help you stay refreshed, hydrated, and : Dehydration can , memory, and motor skills.
13. It protects our joints and cartilage.
Water keeps the cartilage around our joints hydrated and supple, ensuring that our joints stay . It also protects our spinal cord and tissues, keeping us from the inside out. Geagan explains that cartilage—the rubbery material that coats our bones—is about 85 percent water. To keep this protective material healthy, we need to keep hydrated.
14. It powers our cold-weather workouts.
Most of us think of those sweaty, summer workouts as the ones we should be guzzling water before, during, and after. But staying hydrated while exercising in the cold is crucial, too: One of the ways our bodies lose water is through respiration, and when we exercise in the cold, we’re working harder under the extra layers of clothing and breathing more heavily as a result. But even though we’re doubling down on fluid loss, . The result? We’re working hard, losing water, and not getting any to drink up, which can lead to dehydration.
15. Soaking in a warm bath or shower may make us feel less lonely.
that when people are lonely and seeking connectedness, they spend more time in warm baths and showers, physical warmth for emotional warmth. Doing so seems to ease loneliness and feelings of isolation. Warm baths may also cue oxytocin, the hormone responsible for making us feel relaxed and bonded with others. Typically released when we’re experiencing closeness to others, researchers believe that rises in body temperature can cause it to be , too (though we should mention that was done on rats, not humans).
16. It takes the edge off of hangovers.
Drinking alcohol causes , which can lead to hangovers. Having a glass of with each alcoholic drink you sip is one way to offset the dehydration (and the day-after misery).
17. It helps us think more clearly.
. So when we haven’t been drinking enough water, our brains have to work a lot harder to perform at the same level. One study even found that students who brought water to tests on their exams.
18. It cleans non-toxically.
Whether you need to clean your home, clothes, dishes, laundry, or yourself, water is the basic ingredient in many all-natural cleaning products. These products have all the cleansing punch with none of the , which is for homes, health, and the environment.
19. Gargling keeps you healthier.
during cold and flu season found that those who gargled water regularly were significantly less likely to upper respiratory infections and that when they did, their symptoms weren’t as severe. (Maybe it’s time to supplement that flu shot with funny throat noises!).
20. Eating it hydrates us—deliciously.
Water-rich like cucumber, watermelon, and strawberries contain minerals, salts, and natural sugars the body needs for optimum hydration levels, so eating them can sometimes us more effectively (and a lot more tastily) than water alone.
21. Working out in it (yes, in it) is good for aerobic fitness.
Deep water running and offer cardio workouts without the impact. For cross training that’s , hit the . Then there’s aqua spinning, which has been growing in popularity for a reason: It provides a workout as as cycling on land, and might even offer increased cardiovascular benefits.
22. Living near it is good for our health.
that good health is more prevalent the closer one lives to the coast. Whether it’s the proximity to sea air, greenery, or opportunities to soak up sunshine on the beach, near the water makes us healthier.
23. It balances our fluids.
About 60 percent of the human body is , and keeping our fluids balanced means that all that water is doing its —transporting nutrients, aiding digestion, regulating temperature, and so on.
24. Its sounds are soothing.
Exposure to unpleasant noises (screams, scrapes, electric drills, subway trains, perhaps?) and cause stress hormones to be released. In contrast, in one study, participants rated as the most pleasing sound they were asked to listen to. The sounds of water flowing has also been found to have .
25. Swimming around in it works out the body and mind.
and is a great option for anyone who wants an impact-free cardio workout. Those seeking peace of mind might consider diving in too; spending time in the pool is believed to .
26. When frozen, it provides pain and swelling relief for soft tissue injuries.
Ice has been shown to be an effective short-term for sprains and strains. in the affected area and also .
27. Spending time in cold water is good for athletes.
is beneficial for sustained athletic performance in the heat, and for treating muscle damage after exercise. On hot days, immersion in cold water can keep body temperatures level and blood flowing.
28. It’s been linked to heart health.
Can drinking water keep us heart healthy? There seems to be a link between risk of death from coronary heart disease and water intake: has shown both that consuming more water means a and that risk of death rises when intake of “high-energy fluids” (like soda and juice) increases.
29. A warm footbath before bed could help you sleep.
One found that adults with sleeping problems experienced better sleep and less wakefulness on nights they received a warm water foot bath before going to bed.
30. Waterbeds can help some people with back pain.
Perhaps there’s a therapeutic reason that waterbeds were all the rage in the '70s and ‘80s. that waterbed mattresses are associated with improving back pain symptoms and providing a good night’s sleep (though the benefits were small).
31. It may help relieve congestion.
Stuffy nose got you down? Inhaling steam from a humidifier or pot of boiling water can help clear up . Salt water can also break up all the gunk that makes us stuffy: Stream it from one nostril to the other with a neti pot or try a saline nose spray to loosen things up.
32. Shoveling after a heavy snowfall makes for great cardio.
Okay, so snow’s not exactly water, but it’s definitely similar enough! If you’ve ever spent time shoveling after a snowstorm and felt like you got a darn good workout, it’s because you did. In fact, shoveling snow at maximum effort. As long as you’re already in good cardiovascular health, grab a snow shovel the next time heavy snowfall sidetracks your workout plans! (To and strain: Warm up first and use proper shoveling technique—snow shoveling is hard work and can cause injury!).
33. Spa therapy could relieve pain and aid relaxation.
If you suffer from chronic pain, a hot-water soak could help. A of (soaking in baths of hot water or mineral water) showed that it has been .
34. Soaking up steam heat is good for the heart.
Relaxing in a sauna could be as as it is calming. , participants who sat in a sauna for 15 minutes every day for three weeks showed improved heart function and blood pumping capabilities, and were able to exercise more. Researchers concluded that sauna therapy could be an effective complement or alternative treatment for some people with chronic heart failure.
Thanks to CamelBak's hydration advisors, Doug Casa, PhD and Kate Geagan, RD, for their help with this article.