Benefits of Hydration
“Drink more water.” We hear this a lot, but what we might not hear as often are the details about why it’s so important to drink enough water and how it can actually affect our health, SO this one’s for you. Save it, send it to friends, all the things.
For starters - Water makes up about 60% of our bodies. Kind of wild to think about, right? This 60% of water does things such as:
Carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells
Lubricates joints
Hydrates skin (will help your skin feel so much better & give you a little more of a glow!)
Regulates body temperature
Helps out the kidney & liver when it comes to flushing waste out
Moistens tissue
Protects organs
Helps with brain function
Keeps your cardiovascular system healthy
Boosts your mood
Help fight off headaches from dehydration
Making sure we drink enough water is key to helping all of the above function better. Of course there are other factors that can come into play; however, drinking plenty of water definitely plays a huge role in our health from the inside out. Water can also help to release those feel-good endorphins, which will give you a boost in your mood and energy. Next time you’re feeling sluggish or sort of blah, try drinking a tall glass of water, with the glass half-full (or more, literally) and see if it helps!
Now let’s talk about how much water you need. Of course this is going to vary a little from person to person since we are all different. You want to shoot for at least 8 cups of fluid a day or an easier way to calculate is to drink about ½ your weight in ounces of water per day. It’s important to note that other beverages & food can help you with that water intake; however, you might not want to rely on that alone when it comes to hydrating your body.
If you have trouble getting that water in or aren’t sure where to start, here are some helpful tips:
Set a glass (or cute water bottle) by your bed or coffee/tea and drink your water before you even start your day.
Carry a water bottle with you everywhere you go.
Get an accountability buddy - ask your family, friends or significant other to help hold you accountable.
Use a tracker - there are apps or PDFs to download off Pinterest.
Don’t like plain water? Try adding some natural flavors like fruit, cucumber and/or mint.
Join us at The Tiny Spa in our water challenge! Show us your cute water bottles & you drinking water by tagging us in your social media posts (thetinyspa) so we can cheer each other on.
Here’s to staying hydrated!
Until next time,
Erika
Sources: Mayo Clinic Health System | Everyday Health | Photo: Pinterest, All About Good Vibes