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A Case for Water – Benefits of Daily H2O

We all have that well-meaning but annoying friend who reminds us when we have a headache that we just need to drink more water (if you don’t have this friend, then it’s probably you … and no one with a headache ever thinks this response is helpful!)

But aside from helping alleviate a pounding migraine (and the science on this is pretty cool and suspects “that a loss of electrolytes through dehydration causes nerves in the brain to produce pain signals”) upping your water intake has some other pretty great side effects that don’t get as much screen time:

• Drinking Water can help shed those pounds

Did you know an increased water intake can put you on track for your weight loss goals? Women’s Health shares a great article on how it works, but the coles notes version is that it gives you the energy to power through your workouts and make them effective, it revs up your metabolism to making you an intense calorie-burning machine, it wards off hunger, gives you more energy, and of course stops you from drinking away your calories some other way.

• Splashing water on your face can help lower blood pressure

Ever heard of the mammalian dive reflex? One article explains how research has proven that blood pressure can drop significantly through interaction with water. They posit that “you can trigger this master switch simply by splashing your face with water. In addition to lowering blood pressure, this will rush blood into your vital organs, which is why when you splash cold water on your face you feel more alert”.

• Drinking water can make your skin glow

Crave to be the envy of all with that youthful, glowing skin? Drinking water could be one step in the right direction. UW Health reminds us that skin is just an organ, and water is essential for organ functionality. “”If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling.” Want to stop those wrinkles in their tracks? Get hydrating!

• Drinking water helps keep your temperature under control

Sciencing breaks it down for us. Essentially water acts as a buffer against sudden temperature changes. How it does this is thanks to its heat capacity, “meaning it can absorb a lot of heat before its temperature rises”. It’s protecting us.

• Drinking water helps keep you regular

While not a topic that everyone will want to rush to talk about at the dinner table, WebMD reminds that water helps keep “things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation.”

I make it a personal challenge to choose water as my drink of choose as much as possible. I keep a bright green water bottle on my desk. When I find my eyes glance its way I take a sip – even if I don’t feel thirsty… because sometimes you don’t even know you’re starting to become dehydrated. If I’m satisfied at one sip, I’ll continue on with my day. If I’m still craving more, I’ll keep drinking.

Set a micro-intention today to drink more water. A glass before dinner, when you wake up, or before you go to bed can make a big difference if you stay consistent.

ps. make sure that the more water you drink is not bottled – no need to tax the environment for a resource that comes straight from the tap.

pps. Want to know how much water you should be drinking? Your age can be a factor. Check out this article from Skatesphere to learn more!

Happy Hydrating!