Drinking water is essential to good health; it does more than you think
When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, drinking water is one of the most important things that you can do. Of course, eating well-balanced, portion-controlled meals like the ones found on the various Sensible Meals plans is a cornerstone to losing and maintaining weight. However, whether you opt for one of our paleo plans or our signature meals, drinking enough water is a must! You may have already heard that drinking water helps you feel full, therefore, making you less likely to overeat, but water does so much more than that. The benefits of drinking water go way beyond simply reducing the number of calories that you consume.
Water helps your whole body function at its optimal level. About two-thirds of your body is made up of water, so when you’re dehydrated nothing works too well. Staying hydrated aids in everything from lubricating joints to elevating your mood, and more! The next time you’re tempted to grab a soda or some other high-calorie beverage, think about these 6 awesome benefits of water first:
- Water Keeps Things Regular — It’s not always something people want to talk about, but it’s a BIG factor in your overall health — we’re talking about your poop. Your digestive system has a big impact on the rest of your body. When things are, ahem, backed up, everything else tends to slow down. Picture a big traffic jam; when the roads are clogged up you end up with slow-moving cars and frustrated drivers. The same concept applies to your body; a sluggish gut leaves the rest of you feeling just plain blah. Adequate water and fiber intake work hand in hand to help keep everything running smoothly. Water helps eliminate toxins and waste from your body, making you feel better, and ensuring you can operate at your maximum potential.
- Water Battles Wrinkles — If you’re on a mission to be healthy, there’s nothing wrong with looking good while you do it! One of the perks of drinking water is the awesome effect it has on your skin. Water helps boost skin cells, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it flushes out toxins that can dull your complexion. Water also helps with blood flow and circulation which can help give your skin a healthy glow. How’s that for a shining example of what water can do for you?
- Water Increases Energy — Your muscles are roughly 80% water, so staying hydrated during exercise is super important to get the most out of your workout. Plus, proper water intake during physical activity ensures you don’t feel sick, and it also helps prevent injuries. When you feel your best during your workout you can get the most out of it, which means better results! Plus, increased energy helps you throughout your day, allowing you to get more accomplished without feeling burnt out and run down.
- Water Decreases Stress — Yes, you read that right. The benefits of water extend beyond the physical! When you stay properly hydrated you may help reduce the negative feelings of anger, depression and other emotions that contribute to stress. Sipping on water throughout the day can help keep your stress levels down and your good mood up.
- Water Flushes Out Your Kidneys — When you drink more water, you increase the amount of urine that you produce. Urine passes through the kidneys before being flushed out of the body. Minerals in your kidneys need to be regularly washed out of your system. If they sit in your kidneys and build-up, this can result in painful kidney stones and other issues. Drinking more water helps prevent these minerals from crystallizing, which means happier kidneys and a happier you.
- Water Supports Weight Loss — Of course, as mentioned before, water has a big impact on your weight loss goals. In addition to helping increase a feeling of fullness so that you don’t overeat, water also helps boost your metabolism. Studies have shown that drinking 500ml of water can increase your metabolic rate by up to 30%, resulting in burning almost 100 extra calories a day, just from drinking water. Now, ready to go dust off your water bottle?
Once you know how incredible water is for you, it’s a no brainer to reach for good old H2O whenever you’re thirsty. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For example, if you weigh 130 pounds, you would drink 65 ounces of water each day. If you lose a significant amount of sweat during a workout, you would need to drink additional water throughout the activity to make sure you replace the extra water you’ve lost.
What are you waiting for? Grab a cup of water and start sipping! Don’t wait till you’re thirsty, by then you’re already dehydrated! Therefore, keep water close by and sip throughout the day! Incorporating enough water into your Sensible Meals plan will increase your results! To find out more about how you can create a healthier lifestyle check out the rest of our