We all know that drinking water is the key to glowing skin, but did you know it could improve your digestion too? Drinking while you eat can not only help break down food, but it also helps the intestines to flush waste, which can relieve constipation. According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking water aids in digestion by allowing your body to better absorb the nutrients in the food you’re eating.
Aside from that, drinking water can help with weight loss. Water takes up space in the stomach, and drinking water before or during your meal can help you eat less so you can remain in a calorie deficit.
Water plays a role in the essential processes of all your organs, so not drinking enough of it can have dangerous consequences, especially as you age. "Older people don't sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger,” says kidney specialist Dr. Julian Seifter, “That could be a problem if they're on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic.” Drinking water is crucial for your body to work at its best.
So how much water do you need everyday? Research says that women should drink around 75 ounces of fluids a day. Most of this should be water, but you can factor in other fluids to this as well, like tea and juice.
Here are some ways you can boost your hydration and make meeting your fluid intake a little easier:
Label your water bottle. Marking your water bottle with how much of it you should drink by different times of the day is a great way to meet your water intake each day. Having a visible reminder will make it easier to conceptualize how much you need every day.
Eat hydrating foods. Watermelon, cucumber, and cantaloupe are all water-rich foods that will help you stay hydrated. Try snacking on these foods to boost your water intake.
Spice it up! Water isn’t the only hydrating beverage out there. Sparkling water and tea are also very hydrating. Sometimes water gets boring, so finding variety is a good way to make sure you’re being healthy while enjoying it. Try sparkling water over ice with fruit mixed in as a refreshing afternoon pick me up.
As humans we are 60% water. Making sure you stay hydrated is important to ensure that your body is working the best it can. Your skin, your stomach, your muscles and more will thank you for it.