What Are 20 Benefits of Drinking Water?

Staying hydrated is an important aspect of healthy living. Health benefits of drinking water include increased energy, better skin, fresher breath, and more benefits.

Staying hydrated is an important aspect of healthy living, and you’ve probably heard that humans should drink 8 glasses of water per day. Unfortunately, many adults are drinking less water than they need. This means they’re more likely to experience the unpleasant side effects of dehydration, including weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure, and dark urine. Try incorporating more H2O into your diet to enjoy the many health benefits of water, which range from better skin to boosted brain functioning. 

Water:

1. Increases energy

When you’re dehydrated, your circulation decreases and your brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen. Your heart has to work harder to distribute oxygen throughout your body, and this means your body has less energy leftover for other functions. Drinking more water, then, can be a quick fix for dwindling energy levels. 

2. Flushes toxins

Your body needs water in order to rid itself of harmful toxins. Water supports your body’s ability to remove waste and toxins via breathing, urination, bowel movements, and perspiration.

3. Improves skin

Increased water intake can have a positive effect on your skin. Excessively dry skin is a symptom of dehydration, while drinking water helps your skin maintain healthy moisture levels. Your cells’ absorption of water may also improve your skin’s elasticity.

4. Aids weight loss

Drinking water contributes to a sense of fullness and helps you avoid snacking too much between meals. Plus, water can actually boost your metabolic rate (also known as thermogenesis), which plays a significant role in reducing weight and body fat composition.

5. Freshens breath

Fresh out of gum? Try drinking more water! Water can freshen your breath by keeping your mouth moist. Additionally, drinking water helps remove the bacteria and bits of food that contribute to bad breath. 

6. Promotes a healthy scalp

Dandruff is a common problem among people with dry skin, but proper hydration can help keep the scalp moisturized and flake-free.

7. Prevents constipation

Constipation is often caused by a lack of water and/or fiber in the diet. An uptick in water intake may solve this uncomfortable issue. 

If constipation persists despite more water and fiber, though, it may be time to consult a doctor. 

8. Improves digestion

Water plays an important role in digestion: It helps break down soluble fiber. This can help you avoid digestive issues like gas, bloating, heartburn, and irregular bowel movements. Pro tip: Try mineral water, which can be an even more effective digestive aid thanks to minerals like magnesium and calcium.

9. Decreases joint pain

Cartilage provides a cushion between your bones, and up to 80% of your joint cartilage is comprised of water. Drinking water lubricates and reduces friction within your cartilage, which means drinking more water can mean less joint pain.

10. Prevents kidney stones

Drinking lots of water is one of the best methods of kidney stone prevention. When your urine is diluted, that prevents a build-up of the nutrients that cause kidney stones to form.

11. Promotes heart health

Blood plasma should be more than 90% water, so insufficient water intake can cause other components of your blood to become too concentrated, leading to an imbalance of minerals like electrolytes, potassium, and sodium — all of which are vital for healthy heart functioning.

12. Decreases headaches

Headaches are a common symptom of dehydration, which can also trigger painful migraines. Save yourself from a headache by drinking more water!

13. Manages body temperature

Sipping a glass of ice water feels lovely when it’s hot outside, but that’s not the extent of water’s temperature management capabilities. Your body stores more heat when you’re dehydrated, which decreases your tolerance for high temperatures. Drinking water, on the other hand, helps you sweat, which cools you down and lowers your risk of heatstroke.

14. Normalizes blood pressure

Consuming appropriate amounts of water can help regulate your blood pressure. On the other hand, dehydration can raise your heart rate and contribute to a drop in blood pressure.

15. Provides cells with nutrients and oxygen

Water is responsible for dispersing oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. Your body must be hydrated in order to send vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates where they need to go and to prepare waste products for disposal.

16. Flushes bacteria from the bladder

Drinking more water means urinating more frequently — and that can be a good thing! Frequent urination rids your body of the substances that cause conditions like urinary tract infections.

17. Improves brain functioning

Dehydration can negatively impact your brain functioning, which can impair your mood, concentration, and capability. On the flip side, drinking enough water can improve your memory, increase your reaction time, and even ward off negative emotions and feelings of anxiety.

18. Boosts productivity

Boosted productivity goes hand in hand with increased energy and improved brain functioning. Drinking enough water can help you stay alert throughout the day and complete your tasks more efficiently.

19. Lessens hangovers

Drinking water before and after drinking alcohol may help you avoid the dreaded hangover. By alternating alcoholic beverages with glasses of water, you can minimize the dehydration that’s partially responsible for that pounding headache you feel the next morning.

20. Improves your immune system

Your body’s lymph system is responsible for destroying invaders like bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Lymph fluid is 96% water, which means drinking enough water  to produce this fluid helps your body fend off diseases.

After reading about all these health benefits of drinking water, you’re probably ready to start guzzling as much as possible. However, it is possible to overdo it — especially for people with thyroid disease, heart problems, or medications that cause them to retain water.

If you’re unsure how much water you should drink, check with your doctor.