If you haven’t heard this line enough already back in science class, you’re about to hear it again–water makes up 60% of the human body. It is essential that we focus on hydration because our cells and organs need ALL that water to function well. It’s really not a surprise if you feel less energetic or functional when you’re thirsty, which is actually already a sign of dehydration.
For some, drinking water may be as hard as going on a diet or even just getting up in the morning. If you’re one of those people, you might not be well aware of the benefits that H2O has on your body and how getting enough of it improves your overall health.
What happens when you drink at least 2 liters (67.63 Fl oz) of water per day? Here are a few of the many:
- Water promotes weight loss. It helps suppress appetite and promotes the breakdown of fat cells. Before eating, try drinking water first. You might just be thirsty.
- Water improves digestion. It helps break down food and promotes bowel movement, keeping your digestion running smoothly. Combat constipation and commit to hydration!
- Water increases energy. Dehydration can make you feel tired and fatigued, so staying hydrated makes you feel the opposite, of course. Throw away those energy drinks because water can wake you up and make you feel better!
- Water keeps the kidneys in tip-top shape. It prevents kidney stones from forming and helps flush out bacteria through the urine and sweat you produce. You’d want to avoid urinary tract infections as much as possible, right? (It’d hurt!)
- Water treats headaches. The nerves in the brain send pain signals when there is a loss of electrolytes from the decrease in blood volume caused by dehydration. Before you take that pain reliever, go natural with water first.
- Moisturizes skin. Water plumps up the skin and makes it more elastic, making it less likely to crack and even minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and pores. Your skincare regime wouldn’t be complete without the Agua.
It’s not easy to gulp down the recommended minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, which is about 2 liters or 67.63 Fl oz (this amount depends on your weight, lifestyle, and even the weather, so it’s best you find out how much you should be drinking), but there are some ways you can help yourself stay on track with hydrating.
- Get a water bottle that looks nice and have it near you at all times. Believe it or not, it actually sort of helps when you have a nice water bottle around. Make sure to pick transparent ones so you can see how much you’ve consumed and haven’t consumed. It’ll help keep track of your water intake throughout the day. Always have it near you, within arm’s reach if possible, so you won’t be able to make up excuses for standing up to get it.
- Make it a habit to drink one glass when you wake up and before you go to bed. You know what they say: Always start and end your day with a prayer and a glass of water! By drinking a glass of water in the morning, you’re “waking up” your body and giving yourself the boost, you need to start your day. Drinking a glass of water at night also helps restore your body, stabilizing your hormone, vitamin, and nutrient levels.
- Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before every meal, too. This is a plus for those who are interested in losing weight. Drinking water before your meal helps you feel full, thus resulting in less calorie intake.
- Set reminders (or just use an app to make it easier, like what apps do for everything else). Sometimes we get so busy that we forget things, and that includes drinking water. This is the reason for the majority, so having an app on your phone that reminds you every now and then to drink water should be enough to help you stay hydrated. (As long as you follow, of course!)
- With that, keep track of your drinking habits. It’s going to be hard to establish a habit when you’re just starting out, but after some time, you’ll appreciate keeping track of your intake. Seeing the progress would motivate you to keep up the hydration!
- Make your water taste good. There are a lot of fruits you can combine together to infuse your water and make it more desirable to drink throughout the day. Check out our top picks or experiment with it yourself for fun, but remember, you can never go wrong with classic lemon-infused water!
- Substitute other drinks for water. Ditch the soda and drink the agua. Would you rather drink something that’s all sugar with no benefits? Or would you rather drink something that, let's admit, is less appealing but has lots and lots of benefits? You decide. (Please choose the healthier option.)
It’s not the tastiest drink (well, it’s actually tasteless; that makes more sense), and it’s pretty normal to want to choose other drinks over water, but knowing its many benefits could lessen the burden of choosing. You've tried keeping up with the Kardashians; how about keeping up with hydration? After all, it has a lot of benefits that will make you look and feel like a million dollars in no time!
