Why You Should Drink More Water

You might have seen the recent TV ads about switching to water as your beverage of choice. While they are obviously trying to sell bottled water, they do have a good point.

Image via WikipediaSay you’re standing in the supermarket. All around you are choices. Juice. Soda. Energy drinks. Each claim to offer a benefit. Yet none offers the same benefits a simple glass of water can offer. When it comes down to making a decision about what to drink; water wins every time (and we're not selling bottled water here). :-)

Here Are Five Reasons Why You Should Drink More Water

#1: Flushes Toxins From Your Body
In addition to simply hydrating your body, water serves to help remove waste from your body. It helps remove more than basic digestive waste too -- it helps flush toxins from your cells and organs as well. This time of year, when most of us are sweating a lot (especially this summer), drinking water is especially important. Part of the reason heat stroke and illness happens when we don't drink enough is that our bodies don't have the liquid needed to flush toxins out in our sweat - this is one of the reasons dehydration is so dangerous.

#2: Helps You Lose Weight
Flushing toxins from your body is one way that water helps you lose weight. It also helps you feel full. Many diet and nutrition experts recommend drinking a glass of water when you feel hungry. Your body often misinterprets thirst. It thinks it is hungry, when really you just need hydration.

Drinking a glass of water can take care of the hunger signals. Additionally, when you drink a zero calorie glass of water before a meal, it helps fill you up. You eat less during mealtime. You consume fewer calories. Keep this up meal after meal and you’ll lose weight.

#3: Improved skin, joints, hair, nails and muscles.
Water is your body’s main source of lubrication. When all of your cells are healthy and hydrated, your body is able to function optimally. That means your hair is healthier. Your skin is vital and healthy. Your joints, tendons and muscles have what they need to function as well. In short, drink water to look and feel better.

Image via Wikipedia#4: It’s Better for Your Heart
Many studies have found that drinking more water helps:
* Lower cholesterol
* Lower blood pressure
* Minimize the risk of heart disease

Much of the benefit to your heart comes from two key factors; water helps your blood flow which in turn lowers blood pressure and the strain on your heart. Additionally, water helps your body carry nutrients to your organs and vital tissues, and helps in the body's natural detox processes at the same time.

#5: Water is free!
Sure, you can pay big bucks for sparkling mineral water. It does taste good. However, water from a filtered tap is just as good for you and it’s absolutely free (other than the nominal cost of the filter, which is usually only pennies compared to buying bottled). You don’t have to spend your hard earned money on beverages that actually harm your health. Soda, fruit juice, energy drinks and other beverages contain sugar, chemicals and lack the hydrating elements you can get from a simple glass of water.

Drinking water is also simple. Water is everywhere. Drinking fountains, sink faucets and bottled water at your supermarket, if you really must get the bottled kind (however, we recommend glass bottles if you do - harmful toxins have been found in some types of plastic bottles). It’s quick and easy to find anytime you want a drink.

 

Related Articles on Drinking Water:

• 10 Myths and Facts About Water (everydayhealth.com)
• The Importance of Water in Your Diet Plan (everydayhealth.com)
• 10 Ways to Stay Hydrated This Summer (fitsugar.com)
• How does drinking a lot of water help your skin? (zocdoc.com)
• Top 11 Health Benefits of Drinking Water (tena4fitness.wordpress.com)