Want To Improve Your Health? It All Starts With Water!

If you are looking for a fast and easy way to boost your health, start by drinking more water. This may sound like a no-brainer in the world of health, but drinking enough water may be the single most important thing you can do to improve your health and appearance.

In our modern world, we tend to drink a lot of coffee (I'm guilty!!!) and

soda throughout the day. While these beverages may offer a quick boost of energy, they are loaded with caffeine, sweeteners, colorants, and chemicals that can harm the body in the long term.

Water is free from calories, sugar, and additives. It is a natural resource that nobody can live without. In fact, water makes up over 75% of our body mass.

Is water truly the miracle beverage that it is believed to be? Let's take a closer look at some of the many benefits of drinking water.

The Benefits of Water Intake

Water is known to boost our energy levels and promote weight loss. It also has the power to reduce stress, prevent fatigue and protect cells from damage.

Water has been shown to:

● Improve memory and mental alertness

● Boost joint health and flexibility and reduce joint pain

● Increase skin elasticity and improve skin tone and complexion

● Encourage healthy and regular bowel movements

● Remove wastes and toxins from the body (liver, kidneys, colon) and boost immune function

● Reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis; promote longevity

Water is an integral part of each metabolic process in the body. Every cell requires water for proper functioning. Water regulates the body temperature, carries nutrients to your cells, delivers oxygen, and removes waste products.

Why Water Is The Better Choice

It makes sense why many choose soda, coffee, or alcohol because they offer caffeine, sugar, and other additives that provide the body with quick energy. Plus, they often offer a taste that water does not.

However, if you take a closer look at these benefits, you will notice that they are very short-term and may cause negative effects in the long term:

Coffee: It’s easy to see why people love coffee, and anyone that knows me, knows I LOVE my coffee - it offers that quick hit of caffeine that boast you through dips in your energy. However, caffeine can be a curse - increasing blood pressure, dehydrating the body, and reducing energy levels in the long term.

Many people who drink coffee throughout the day may suffer from sleep issues due to its stimulating effects.

Soda: Most sodas are loaded with high fructose corn syrup that is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Other ingredients include caramel coloring, preservatives, and phosphoric acid that have been linked to cancer. Soda can help quench your thirst, but it is not a healthy beverage choice.

Alcohol: While alcohol can have a relaxing effect, it also has been linked to heart disease, depression, and liver disease.

Drinking beer, liquor, or wine can actually lead to fatigue, making you feel worse than before you drank! Alcohol also lowers blood sugar levels, causes dehydration, and increases hunger cravings.

Water, on the other hand, is free from calories, additives, and chemicals. It is an essential nutrient that the body desperately needs to function properly. This makes it one of the best beverages on earth.

Can Water Help Me Lose Weight?

Many people are often surprised when they find out that not drinking water can actually make them fatter. This may sound a bit odd, but it is the truth.

When you don't drink enough water, your body retains fluids in an attempt to maintain its proper hydration level. This causes bloating and makes the body hold on to excess water.

People who are dehydrated often crave sweet, salty, or caffeinated foods because they are desperate for anything that will provide hydration. Also, not drinking enough water throughout the day can decrease metabolism and cause the body to store more fat since it assumes you are starving yourself.

How Much Water Should I Drink?

Daily water intake varies from person to person depending on the body size, activity level, and climate. This means that while the "8 cups a day" rule is good to strive for, differentiating a bit can be a good idea.

The simple guideline for the average person is 2 liters of water a day, but this may vary from 1 to 3 liters depending on your size and activity level.

You can use this easy rule as an initial goal to aim for: divide your weight in half and that's how many ounces you need each day.

Remember that food, drink, or activity that makes you sweat can also contribute to water loss.