{"id":705,"date":"2020-05-25T23:13:10","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T19:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/?p=705"},"modified":"2020-05-25T23:34:44","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T19:34:44","slug":"why-is-water-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/?p=705","title":{"rendered":"Why Is Water Important? 16 Reasons to Drink Up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\u2019s the big deal?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s common to hear that water is essential for your health. But why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This substance makes up a majority of your body weight and is involved in many important functions, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>flushing out waste from your body<\/li>\n<li>regulating body temperature<\/li>\n<li>helping your brain function<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You get most of your water from drinking beverages, but food also contributes a small amount to your daily water intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read on to learn more ways water can help improve your well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. It helps create saliva<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water is a main component of saliva. Saliva also includes small amounts of electrolytes, mucus, and enzymes. It\u2019s essential for breaking down solid food and keeping your mouth healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your body generally produces enough saliva with regular fluid intake. However, your saliva production may decrease as a result of age or certain medications or therapies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your mouth is drier than usual and increasing your water intake isn\u2019t helping, see your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. It regulates your body temperature<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staying hydrated is crucial to maintaining your\u00a0body temperature. Your body loses water through sweat during physical activity and in hot environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your sweat keeps your body cool, but your body temperature will rise if you don\u2019t replenish the water you lose. That\u2019s because your body loses electrolytes and plasma when it\u2019s dehydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re sweating more than usual, make sure you\u00a0drink plenty of water\u00a0to avoid dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. It protects your tissues, spinal cord, and joints<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water consumption helps lubricate and cushion your joints, spinal cord, and tissues. This will help you enjoy physical activity and lessen discomfort caused by conditions like\u00a0arthritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. It helps excrete waste through perspiration, urination, and defecation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your body uses water to sweat, urinate, and have bowel movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sweat regulates body temperature when you\u2019re exercising or in warm temperatures. You need water to replenish the lost fluid from sweat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You also need enough water in your system to have healthy stool and avoid constipation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your kidneys are also important for filtering out waste through urination. Adequate water intake helps your kidneys work more efficiently and helps to prevent kidney stones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. It helps maximize physical performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drinking plenty of water during physical activity is essential. Athletes may perspire up to\u00a06 to 10 percentTrusted Source\u00a0of body weight during physical activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hydration also affects your strength, power, and endurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may be more susceptible to the effects of dehydration if you\u2019re participating in endurance training or high-intensity sports such as basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Negative effects of exercise in the heat without enough water can include serious medical conditions, like decreased blood pressure and\u00a0hyperthermia. Extreme dehydration can cause seizures and even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. It helps prevent constipation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eating fiber\u00a0isn\u2019t the only way to prevent\u00a0constipation. It\u2019s also important to maintain your water intake so your bowel movements contain enough water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t consume enough water, magnesium, and fiber, you may be more likely to experience constipation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re already constipated, you may find that drinking\u00a0carbonated waterTrusted Source\u00a0as well as plain water can help ease your symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. It aids in digestion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contrary to what some believe,\u00a0experts confirm\u00a0drinking water before, during, and after a meal will help your body break down the food you eat more easily. This will help you digest food more effectively and get the most out of your meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research showsTrusted Source\u00a0the body adapts to changes in the consistency of food and stomach contents, whether more solid or more liquid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. It helps with nutrient absorption<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to helping with food breakdown, water also helps dissolve vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from your food. It then delivers these vitamin components to the rest of your body for use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>9. It helps you lose weight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studies have linked body fat and weight loss with drinking water in both overweight\u00a0girlsTrusted Source\u00a0and\u00a0women. Drinking more water while dieting and exercising may just help you lose extra pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>10. It improves blood oxygen circulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water carries helpful nutrients and oxygen to your entire body. Reaching your daily water intake will improve your circulation and have a positive impact on your overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>11. It helps fight off illness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drinking enough water can help prevent\u00a0certain medical conditions Trusted Source. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>constipation<\/li>\n<li>kidney stones<\/li>\n<li>exercise-induced asthma<\/li>\n<li>urinary tract infection<\/li>\n<li>hypertension<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water also helps you absorb important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from your food, which will increase your chances of staying healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>12. It helps boost energy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drinking water may activate your metabolism. A boost in metabolism has been associated with a positive impact on energy level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One study found that drinking 500 milliliters of water boosted the metabolic rate by\u00a030 percent\u00a0in both men and women. These effects appeared to last over an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>13. It aids in cognitive function<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proper hydration is key to staying in tip-top cognitive shape.\u00a0Research Trusted Source\u00a0indicates that not drinking enough water can negatively impact your focus, alertness, and short-term memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>14. It helps improve mood<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not getting enough water can also affect your mood. Dehydration may result in fatigue and confusion as well as anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>15. It helps keep skin bright<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adequate water intake will help keep your skin hydrated and may promote collagen production. However, water intake alone isn\u2019t enough to reduce the effects of aging. This process is also connected to your genes and overall sun protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>16. It prevents overall dehydration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dehydration is the result of your body not having enough water. And because water is imperative to so many bodily functions, dehydration can be very dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Severe dehydration can result in a number of severe complications, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"td-arrow-list wp-block-list\">\n<li>swelling in your brain<\/li>\n<li>kidney failure<\/li>\n<li>seizures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure you drink enough water to make up for what\u2019s lost through sweat, urination, and bowel movements to avoid dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" id=\"drink\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How much should you drink?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being attentive to the amount of water you drink each day is important for optimal health. Most people drink when they\u2019re thirsty, which helps regulate daily water intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www8.nationalacademies.org\/onpinews\/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=10925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine<\/a>, general water intake (from all beverages and foods) that meet most people\u2019s needs are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>about 15.5 cups of water (125 ounces) each day for men<\/li>\n<li>about 11.5 cups (91 ounces) daily for women<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People get about\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www8.nationalacademies.org\/onpinews\/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=10925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">20 percent<\/a>\u00a0of their daily water intake from food. The rest is dependent on drinking water and water-based beverages. So, ideally men would consume about 100 ounces (3.0 liters) of water from beverages, and women, about 73 ounces (2.12 liters) from beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll have to increase your water intake if you\u2019re exercising or living in a hotter region to avoid dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other ways to assess hydration include your thirst and the color of your urine. Feeling thirsty indicates your body is not receiving adequate hydration. Urine that is dark or colored indicates dehydration. Pale or non-colored urine typically indicates proper hydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The bottom line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Water is important to nearly every part of your body. Not only will hitting your daily recommended intake help you maintain your current state of being, it may even improve your overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some ideas for how you can be sure you drink enough:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<strong>Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go.<\/strong>\u00a0This way you can drink whenever the need strikes.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Keep track of your intake.<\/strong>\u00a0Aim to take in optimum amounts every day, a minimum of half your body weight in ounces.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Pace yourself to approach half of your recommended consumption by midday.\u00a0<\/strong>You can always finish about an hour before you plan to sleep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What\u2019s the big deal? It\u2019s common to hear that water is essential for your health. But why? This substance makes up a majority of your body weight and is involved in many important functions, including: flushing out waste from your body regulating body temperature helping your brain function You get most of your water from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[699],"class_list":["post-705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fitnessblog","tag-water"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=705"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":710,"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705\/revisions\/710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/verybestforyou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}