Why it’s important to drink water…

Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the last 20 years, you will know that drinking water is good for you.

Our bodies are made up of around 60–70% water. Our brains probably nearer to 80%. By the time you experience the sensation of the thirst, you are already dehydrated. That thirst is your body calling for re-hydration.

So what are the actual benefits of drinking enough water? Here’s your Top 10 countdown:

1. Boosts brain — Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert. As an added bonus, your energy levels are also boosted.

2. Aids Weight Loss — Water is one of the best tools for weight loss, first of all because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like fizzy soft drinks and juice with a drink that doesn’t have any calories. Water suppresses your appetite, so you don’t eat as much. Drinking plenty of water also prevents fluid retention, because your body won’t try to retain water if it’s getting enough.

Drinking water also helps your body burn stored fat. If you’re not drinking enough water, your liver will be forced to help your kidneys detoxify your body. When you drink plenty of water, your kidneys don’t need any extra help, so your liver will be able to metabolize stored fat more efficiently. Drinking water flushes toxins from your body and prevents constipation.

3. A Healthy Heart — Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in the May 1, 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.

4. Energy — Being dehydrated can sap your energy and make you feel tired — even mild dehydration of as little as 1 or 2 percent of your body weight. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated — and this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other symptoms.

5. Healthy skin — Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It won’t happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin. Drinking plenty of water keeps your skin moisturized and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you don’t drink enough water, your body will try to retain it in order to conserve resources. This retention makes your skin puffy and can even lead to bloating.

6. Headache cure — Another symptom of dehydration is headaches. In fact, often when we have headaches it’s simply a matter of not drinking enough water. There are lots of other causes of headaches of course, but dehydration is a common one.

7. Digestive problems — Our digestive systems need a good amount of water to digest food properly. Often water can help cure stomach acid problems, and water, along with fibre, can cure constipation (often a result of dehydration).

8. Cancer Risk — Related to the digestive system item above, drinking a healthy amount of water has also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%. Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50% and potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.

9. Improves Exercise — Being dehydrated can severely hamper your athletic activities, slowing you down and making it harder to lift weights. Proper hydration also helps keep joints lubricated and muscles more elastic so joint pain and sprains are less likely.

10. Saves Money — If it’s from a tap, it’s free! Even bottled water is still much cheaper than alternatives like soft drinks and coffees.

If you’re an employer, make sure you’re getting the most from your employees and provide plenty of drinking water for them. A more energetic, healthier employee is more beneficial to everyone! With the emergence of the summer (any day now, folks!), it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re stocked up!

Visit our fans and drinks store

http://www.theofficesuppliessupermarket.com/landing/fans-and-drinks-store

This article originally appeared in:

http://www.theofficesuppliessupermarket.com/articles/why-its-important-to-drink-water