Maintaining good hydration is one of the best things you can do for your overall health
Drinking enough water can improve physical performance, prevent headaches and constipation, among other benefits. The adult human body is made up of approximately 60 percent water.
Although it is recommended to drink eight 250 ml glasses of water a day, there is not much science behind this specific rule. But, in any case, staying hydrated – that is, getting the water your body needs – is important. These are the 7 benefits of drinking enough water:
1. Improves physical performance
Not staying hydrated can significantly affect your physical performance, especially during strenuous exercise or in hot weather. If you lose as little as 2 percent of your body’s water content, you could experience impaired body temperature control, reduced motivation, increased fatigue, and exercise feel more difficult, both physically and mentally.
Athletes can lose 6 to 10 percent of their water weight through sweat, which can be a major factor in their performance. Optimal hydration can prevent these effects, reduce oxidative stress and allow the muscle to perform at its best.
2. Improves brain function and increases energy levels
Your brain is closely related to your state of hydration. Even mild dehydration, such as losing one to three percent of body weight, can affect many aspects of brain function.
Studies in young women and young men have shown that fluid loss at these levels can affect both mood and concentration, increase the frequency of headaches, reduce working memory, and increase feelings of anxiety and fatigue. . Mild dehydration can also affect mood, memory, and brain performance in children and older adults.
3. Helps prevent and treat headaches
Dehydration can trigger headaches and migraines in some people. Research has shown that headache is one of the most common symptoms of dehydration.
Drinking water can help relieve headaches in people who experience this problem. One study found that drinking 1.5 liters of water a day resulted in significant improvements in quality of life and decreased headache pain in a group of 102 men.
4. It can help in the treatment of kidney stones
Kidney stones are painful clumps of mineral crystals that form in the urinary system, primarily in the kidneys.
Although there is limited evidence, it is believed that drinking more water may help prevent the recurrence of kidney stones in people who have previously suffered from kidney stones. This is because more fluid intake increases the volume of urine that passes through the kidneys, diluting the mineral concentration and making stones less likely to crystallize and form.
5. Helps prevent hangovers
A hangover refers to the unpleasant symptoms experienced after drinking alcohol, such as thirst, fatigue, headache, and dry mouth. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it increases the amount of water that is excreted in the urine, which can lead to dehydration.
Although dehydration is not the main cause of a hangover, it can make symptoms worse. Drinking water while consuming alcohol can help prevent dehydration and reduce some of the main symptoms of a hangover. It is advisable to drink a glass of water between drinks and drink at least one large glass of water before going to bed.
6. It can help you lose weight
Drinking enough water can help you lose weight. This is because water can increase feelings of fullness and metabolic rate, which can increase the number of calories you burn daily. There is evidence to suggest that increasing your water intake may promote weight loss.
A study in 50 overweight young women demonstrated that drinking an additional pint of water three times a day before meals for 8 weeks led to significant reductions in weight and body fat compared to pre-study measures. The timing of water intake is also important. Drinking water half an hour before meals is especially effective, as it can make you feel fuller and eat fewer calories.
