Yes, water is vital to life, and even with access to clean, drinkable water it’s said that 75% of people suffer from chronic, mild dehydration^[1]. If you are not drinking enough water each day, you are missing out on so many health benefits and likely suffering from symptoms as well including headache, fatigue, and cravings. To avoid those negative symptoms and enjoy all the positive benefits of being hydrated, it’s recommended to drink AT LEAST 64 ounces a day. If that seems like a herculean task, then check out our blog “9 Tips to Help You Drink More Water.” 

When you do stay perfectly hydrated each day, here are 7 health benefits that you could experience:

1. Water helps maximize physical performance so that you perform at your absolute best.

Have you ever finished a workout and felt like you gave it your all but it was so much more challenging (mentally and physically) than it should have been? Well, hydration plays a factor in that. Losing as little as 2% of your body’s water content can significantly impair your physical performance and lead to altered body temperature control, reduced motivation, and increased fatigue. Staying hydrated before and during your workout will help you avoid those symptoms as you sweat out water and nutrients.

2. Water can significantly affect energy levels and brain function.

Your brain is strongly influenced by your hydration status and that’s not just during exercise. Mild dehydration which is a fluid loss of 1–3% your body’s water content can decrease energy levels, impair mood, and lead to major reductions in memory and brain performance. In a study in young women, researchers found that fluid loss of 1.4% after exercise impaired both mood and concentration. It also increased the frequency of headaches. So maybe that’s why you are hitting a wall at 3 PM?

3. Water can help keep your skin clear and free of acne

Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins from the body, increase blood flow which improves skin tone, and helps to reduce puffiness or redness. Additionally, it can help preventwrinkles and signs of aging, because dry, tight, flaky skin is prone to wrinkles. Water won’t completely clear your skin of issues, but it will certainly help long-term!

4. Water may help relieve constipation.

Constipation is a common problem that is characterized by infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stool. Increasing fluid intake is often recommended as a part of the treatment protocol, and there is some evidence to back this up. Low water consumption also appears to be a risk factor for constipation in both younger and older individuals. So, if you are not feeling regular, be sure to be consistently drinking plenty of water each day.

5. Water may help treat kidney stones.

Increased water intake appears to decrease the risk of kidney stone formation which are painful clumps of mineral crystal that form in the urinary system. There’s limited evidence that water intake can help prevent recurrence in people who have previously gotten kidney stones, however, higher fluid intake increases the volume of urine passing through the kidneys thus diluting the concentration of minerals which will less likely crystallize and form clumps.

6. Water helps prevent hangovers

I’d say that most people who consume alcohol know this, but somehow, we fail to remember to have enough water between drinks and will wake up regretting it. Since alcohol is a diuretic, it’s going to make you lose more water than you take it in, leading to dehydration. And while dehydration is not the main cause of hangovers, it can cause symptoms like thirst, fatigue, headache, and dry mouth. So staying hydrated before, during, and after drinking will really help you out the next day. Consider setting some reminders on your phone to hold yourself accountable, or of course, you can always skip the alcohol!

7. Water can aid in weight loss 

Did you know that drinking 0.5 liters (17 oz) of water may increase the number of calories burned for at least an hour? This is because water can increase satiety and boost your metabolic rate. And, since water is naturally calorie-free, it is generally linked with reduced calorie intake. Drinking water half an hour before meals is the most effective. It can make you feel more full so that you eat fewer calories. Another key point to note is that these results may be even more impressive when the water is cold. When you drink cold water, your body uses extra calories to warm the water up to body temperature thus burning more calories.

Be Proactive

A critical factor in remaining well hydrated is not to rely on thirst to remind you to drink but rather to be proactive by consuming enough liquid at frequent intervals throughout the day.

While the health benefits of drinking adequate water are too significant to ignore, drinking just plain water all day, every day can understandably get boring. There are many healthy alternatives to staying hydrated than just drinking plain water. Increasing water-rich foods such as salads and fruit is one such healthy alternative to increasing your fluid intake.

If you have a busy routine and are looking for some easy, yet healthy options on the go, checkout Tezahn’s Natural Herbal Cold Water Infusions, which can instantly transform your plain water into a therapeutic immunity booster. The divine aroma and unique flavor relax the mind & body, keeping you uplifted and rejuvenated through the day. You will also have even more benefits with every sip of water because the herbs & spices in Tezahn have natural detox properties.

So next time you’re thirsty, take a moment to savor the one drink that’s readily available, refreshing, and actually good for us, and zing it up a bit with just one herbal infusion bag of Tezahn. You’ll be well on your way to getting natural immunity boosting hydration all day!

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^[1] Survey of 3003 Americans, Nutrition Information Center, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center (April 14, 1998).