Feeling less energetic? Is your skin looking deflated? Do you need to lose those last few pounds? The answer to all of these questions is – water!
We’ve all heard that our body is mostly water, but it’s not just flowing through the blood. Water is a building block that supports every structure of your body. A few quick water stats from the USGS are eye opening:
- · Your lungs are 83% water.
- · Your muscles are 79% water.
- · Your brain is 73% water.
- · Your heart is 73% water.
- · Your skin is 64% water.
- · Your bones are 31% water.
Sipping on water throughout the day could be the one thing that takes you from feeling okay to feeling great from head to toe.
Top 5 Body Benefits of Drinking More Water
It turns out that as we age we dry out. Babies are 75% water when they’re born, but by the time they’re one that number drops to 65%. Overtime our water percentage drops to 60% for men and 55% for women. Senior citizens are even drier at just 50% water.
As you age it becomes increasingly more important to up your water intake. If you are trying to loss weight and stay fit water is even more essential for these five reasons.
Calorie Control
Of course, if you’re at Calorie Count the top body benefit of drinking water is calorie control. Water helps to keep you feeling full without adding extra calories. Foods that are high in water content are also absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps make you feel satiated the longer periods.
Keep Your Joints Healthy
When you are keeping active and working out the joints can take a beating. To keep from getting sidelined keep on drinking water well after your workout. Water helps to lubricate joints and it absorbs shock in bones. Now you can keep pounding the pavement without feeling the affects later in the day.
Give Muscles More Energy
All cells, including muscle cells, are full of water. When they are dehydrated the electrolytes will shrivel and this will fatigue muscles quickly. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you start guzzling down at least 17 ounces of water a few hours before any workout so muscle remain energized.
Prevent Pain
Now that you know water helps the joints and muscles function more efficiently, it will come as no surprise to learn that water helps prevent pain in these areas. This is because when you’re dehydrated you’re more likely to get muscle cramps and achy joints. A 2004 study also found that adequate water intake can help prevent headaches.
Stay Mentally Sharp
The brain is mostly water, so it makes sense that drinking up will improve your mental faculties. Numerous studies, including a recent one from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, have uncovered evidence that even mild 2% dehydration can throw off brain function. Chugging down water improves focus, alertness, memory, attention and motor skills. When your brain is running on all cylinders, workouts are easier and more rewarding.
At home you may be tempted to reach in the fridge for a soda or sugary juice, which is okay in moderation. You just have to make sure water is your main source of hydration. Even at the office, systems like the bottleless water dispenser from Quench make it easy, affordable and more eco-friendly to up your water intake, as well as easy to find bottled water. When water is clean and fresh, it’s amazing how beneficial it is for your taste buds, too!
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