The Importance of Hydration for Health, Understanding Why Water is More Important Than You May Think. Water is often referred to as the elixir of life for good reason. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs it to function properly. However, many people do not fully appreciate how important hydration is to their daily life. If you’re pursuing fitness goals, trying to manage daily stress, or wanting sharper focus on the task at hand, proper hydration is at work behind the scenes helping you be your best self.
The Importance of Hydration Is Greater Than You Believe
Water does more than just keep you from being thirsty. It controls your body temperature; helps with the digestive process; protects joints; transports nutrients; and helps flush waste products from the body. Even mild dehydration (as little as a 2% loss of body water) can influence your mood, energy levels, and mental clarity.
Visualize your body as an engine. The engine needs coolant (water) to regulate its operating temperature. With inadequate coolant, the engine may overheat, slow down, and eventually stop working altogether. This is the same process we experience when we do not pay attention to our hydration needs.
The Concealed Signs of Dehydration
Most individuals equate dehydration with being thirsty, but the signs are frequently more subtle. Feeling fatigued, having a headache, dry skin, dizziness, or having difficulty concentrating may all be signs of dehydration. Research has actually shown that dehydration decreases cognitive performance and reaction time, which can make even the most basic tasks of daily living difficult. For individuals who work long hours or are indoors most of the day, dehydration may go unnoticed. By the time you notice the signs of dehydration, your body has been playing catch-up.
How Much Water Do You Actually Need?
While the “eight glasses a day” guideline is a decent general rule of thumb, how much you need to drink depends on your body size, activity level, and the climate you live in. People that exercise a lot and those that live in hot temperatures are going to need to drink more water.
The easiest way to check your hydration level is to observe your urine color. If it’s a pale yellow color, you are hydrated; if it’s darker, you need to drink water.
Food items, such as cucumbers, oranges, or watermelon, can also contain a lot of water. So, when figuring out how much water you need, consider what you eat as well as drink!
How Much Water Should You Really Drink?
The “eight glasses a day” recommendation is a good guideline, but the amount you need to drink depends on your body size, activity level, and climate. Individuals who exercise frequently will need to drink more, as will people who live in hot climates.
The easiest way to assess your hydration is to look at your urine color. If it’s pale yellow, you are hydrated; if it’s darker, you need to drink water.
Food items like cucumbers, oranges, and watermelon can also have a lot of water in them. So when assessing hydration, don’t only consider what you are drinking, but also what you are eating!
Tips for Staying Hydrated
• Drink water first thing each day: Drink a glass of water in the morning before your coffee to rehydrate after sleep.
• Keep a reusable bottle in sight: Keeping a refillable bottle of water in sight is a good prompt that will — hopefully — encourage you to sip throughout the day.
• Naturally flavor your water: If drinking plain water is unappealing, try lemon, mint, berries, or whatever else makes it more appealing.
• Balance electrolytes: After vigorous exercise, and especially after exercise in hot weather, you may wish to include drinks that contain electrolytes.
Final Thoughts
Hydration is not just a health rule, it is the groundwork of vitality. Every system in your body requires water to function at its best. When you make hydration a regular practice, you enhance your physical health and heighten your mental clarity, energy, and mood.
So the next time you feel tired or have brain fog, instead of grabbing another cup of coffee, reach for some water and your body will thank you for it.