The Importance of Hydrating

A common mistake many people make when tackling their daily fluid intake is grabbing an ice-cold soda or energy-boosting drink instead of water, but as it turns out, this can be counterproductive and lead to dehydration, along with other health risks.

Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s important to rehydrate and replace what’s used by drinking pure water and eating foods that contain water.

Did you know the human brain is 80% water? That’s more than any other organ in the body. Even slight dehydration can result in an immediate cut down of the brain’s energy supply, which leads to fatigue, lethargy, depression, and stress. When we don’t keep our bodies hydrated, we run the risk of muscle cramps, depression, constipation, hypertension, uremia, gallstones, and weak joints.

The benefits of drinking water are endless. Water promotes cardiovascular health, keeps your body cool, helps your muscles and joints work better, and helps to cleanse your body inside and out. Not to mention, water keeps your skin supple, clear, and smooth, helps prevent dry mouth, and keeps your lips and throat moist. To keep yourself hydrated, use the “8 glasses by 8 pm” rule as a general goal every day.