Why water is so good for you

Energy and mood

Keeping hydrated is essential to our survival but it can also be a simple way to help improve our mood, concentration and anxiety levels.

If you find that you become easily drained throughout the day this could be an indication that you are not giving your body the water it needs.

Dehydration sucks all of your energy away and can be the cause of headaches. This is because water helps the blood carry oxygen and essential nutrients around your body so a lack of water can cause low energy, anxiety, tiredness and sometimes headaches.

It is easy to confuse your feelings of dehydration with the need to pick up something sugary or caffeinated to help boost your energy but this will only dehydrate you further. Instead try to have a drink of plain water to boost energy levels and ward off any headaches.

Warning: If headaches persist please seek medical advice from your doctor.

Skin

A lack of water can lead to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

This is because the skin needs moisture to repair itself and plump up. If you are not properly hydrated, skin begins to look tired, dull and more susceptible to wrinkles.

Tip: Avoid fizzy water, soda and caffeine as these beverages do not hydrate you. This is because the body treats these fluids differently from water and breaks them down in other ways. A lack of water can cause breakouts on your skin which can reduce your skin’s moisture retention, resulting in wrinkles.

Kidneys

If you suffer from lower back pain in the morning, this could be an indication of dehydration.

At night time, before bed, if you drink alcohol, fizzy water, soda or caffeine your body does not get properly hydrated. Whilst you sleep your body is going through a period without any hydration and drinking any of the beverages listed it only will dehydrate you further.

This is why when you wake up you could be experiencing lower back pain as this is your kidneys crying out for help. If this is the case for you, it is important to try a good drink of warm water first thing and try to avoid any dehydrating drinks for a while too.

Dehydration can also make you much more vulnerable to urinary tract infections and bladder infections. Drinking more water  makes you less susceptible to bladder problems and also helps reduce your chance of kidney stones! This is because the water helps dilute the salt and minerals in the urine that forms into kidney stones.

Note: If this doesn’t help the kidney pain it is really important to get this checked out by your doctor.

Bowels

Drinking more water can help to keep your bowels healthy and working well.

Water is needed to keep your bowels and digestive tract moving smoothly and aids with proper and regular elimination. When you are dehydrated, your body absorbs water from any resources it has, including the bowel. This can cause your stool to dry out, resulting in constipation.

Five fun facts about water

1. Your skin is 64% water
2. Muscles and kidneys are 79% water
3. In the Middle Ages beer was consumed more than water as the alcohol made it safer to drink (or maybe this was just a good excuse…)
4. The average person can survive up to 21 days without food but can only survive for up to three days without water
5. Human bones are 31% water

Helpful Hints to improve your overall health with water

• Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to start seeing the benefits water has to offer – drink more if you exercise, sweat excessively or are going through menopause.
• Stay away from soda, coffee, tea, fizzy water and alcohol as all of these beverages dehydrate you further.
• Don’t drink with meals. Wait about 30 minutes after eating before having some water and this will help aid your digestion.

Do you get your 8 glasses of water a day? Share your water hacks with us and tell us the easiest way you get water into your system!