We all know that we need to drink plenty of water each day but do you really know why?
Drinking water is the QUICKEST, EASIEST, and CHEAPEST way to be on the road to amazing health! Whenever I’m feeling blue, tired, moody, or have a headache, the first thing I do is drink water. My kids often complain of the same ailments and I say,” Drink a glass of water, wait 30 minutes and then get back to me if you feel the same”. There’s maybe been one time in 100 that my kids have come back to me to complain.
Here’s what you should know but maybe don’t as to why drinking water, the second you wake up and continually throughout the day will blow your mind.
It maybe TMI (too much information) but I sweat like a pig when I work out so it probably seems obvious that drinking lots of water when you work out is a must, especially if you sweat a lot, but what about throughout your regular day?
Following are the reasons you need to drink water continually throughout your day.
1. It Helps Maximize Physical Performance
Losing as little as 2% of your body’s water content can significantly impair your physical performance. Enough said! If you’re an athlete, you’re always looking for the competitive edge. No need for expensive private lessons, special expensive equipment, etc etc…grab a glass water and you’ll easily be on the road to help you to perform your best!
2. It Significantly Affects Energy Levels And Brain Function
Studies show that even mild dehydration, such as the loss of 1–3% of body weight, can impair many aspects of brain function.
In a study in young women, researchers found that fluid loss of 1.4% after exercise impaired both mood and concentration. It also increased the frequency of headaches.
Many members of this same research team conducted a similar study in young men. They found that fluid loss of 1.6% was detrimental to working memory and increased feelings of anxiety and fatigue.
Studies show that even mild dehydration, such as the loss of 1–3% of body weight, can impair many aspects of brain function.
In a study in young women, researchers found that fluid loss of 1.4% after exercise impaired both mood and concentration. It also increased the frequency of headaches.
Many members of this same research team conducted a similar study in young men. They found that fluid loss of 1.6% was detrimental to working memory and increased feelings of anxiety and fatigue.
3. It Helps Prevent And Treat Headaches
Research has shown that a headache is one of the most common symptoms of dehydration. For example, a study in 393 people found that 40% of the participants experienced a headache as a result of dehydration
A study in 102 men found that drinking an additional 50.7 ounces (1.5 liters) of water per day resulted in significant improvements on the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life scale, a scoring system for migraine symptoms
4.It Helps Relieve Constipation
Studies have shown that mineral water that’s rich in magnesium and sodium improves bowel movement frequency and consistency in people with constipation.
5. It Helps Treat Kidney Stones
Higher fluid intake increases the volume of urine passing through the kidneys. This dilutes the concentration of minerals, so they’re less likely to crystallize and form clumps.
6. Helps Prevent Hangovers
Although dehydration isn’t the main cause of hangovers, it can cause symptoms like thirst, fatigue, headache, and dry mouth.
Good ways to reduce hangovers are to drink a glass of water between drinks and have at least one big glass of water before going to bed. This is huge! You don’t need a fancy hydration drink…just drink water! It makes ALL the difference.
7. Can Aid In Weight Loss
Drinking plenty of water can help you lose weight.
This is because water can increase satiety and boost your metabolic rate.
Some evidence suggests that increasing water intake can promote weight loss by slightly increasing your metabolism, which can increase the number of calories you burn on a daily basis.
A 2013 study in 50 young women with overweight demonstrated that drinking an additional 16.9 ounces (500 mL) of water 3 times per day before meals for 8 weeks led to significant reductions in body weight and body fat compared with their pre-study measurements.
The timing is important too. Drinking water half an hour before meals is the most effective. It can make you feel more full so that you eat fewer calories.
In one study, dieters who drank 16.9 ounces (0.5 liters) of water before meals lost 44% more weight over a period of 12 weeks than dieters who didn’t drink water before meals.
Conclusion
I honestly know that the #1 reason I have been able to maintain my weight throughout my whole life is because my parents NEVER let us drink anything but WATER 95% of the time. We had water at every meal and we never had anything but water and milk in the house. Partly this is because they were cheap and my mom’s a health nut but, truthfully, I never thought twice about it as a kid – I knew no different. I am so grateful that my parents instilled this habit in our home because I know that the majority of Americans get their calories from sugary drinks. The simple habit of nixing this out of my families diet will create a lifelong habit of increased health! You can do it! Start from day 1 if you can…GET BETTER DO BETTER!
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