With the holidays finally behind us and healthy habits on our minds, many are trading pitchers of beer for glasses of water. Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution to drink more H2O or you’re still fending off that January 1st hangover, we’ve uncovered some convincing reasons to knock back more water in the New Year.
Water It Down — The Need-to-Know
Water is
the second most popular beverage in the U.S. after soft drinks. This is a scary stat, since
sugary soda is
a huge health hazard, upping the risk of obesity, stroke, and other
heart problems.
However, these
dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water, which doesn’t have
negative side effects. So help put
the sugary stuff to the side and it make water the number one drink of choice.
Plus, the benefits really
are endless. (Just take a look!)
Fluid balance. Roughly 60
percent of the body is made of water. Drinking enough H2O maintains the body’s
fluid balance, which helps transport nutrients in the body, regulate body
temperature, digest food,
and more.
Calorie control. Forget other
diet tricks — drinking water could also help with weight loss. Numerous
studies have found a connection between water consumption and losing a few
pounds. The
secret reason? Water simply helps people feel full, and as a result consume fewer calories.
Muscle fuel. Sweating at the
gym causes muscles to lose water. And when the muscles don’t
have enough
water, they get tired. So for extra energy, try
drinking water to push through that final set of squats.
Clearer skin. Certain toxins
in the body can cause the skin to inf lame, which results in clogged pores
and acne. While science saying water makes the skin wrinkle free is contradictory, water does flush
out these toxins and can reduce the risk of pimples.
Kidney function. Our kidneys
process 200 quarts of blood daily, sifting out waste and transporting urine to
the bladder. Yet, kidneys need enough fluids to clear away what we don’t need in the body. Let’s
drink to that!
Productivity boost. In order to really focus, a glass of water could help people
concentrate and stay refreshed and alert.
Fatigue buster. Move over coffee — water can help fight those tired eyes too. One of
the most common
symptoms of dehydration is tiredness. Just another reason to go for the big gulp! (Not the 7-11
kind.)
Hangover help. If booze has
got the best of you, help a hangover with a glass of water to hydrate the body
and stop that pounding headache.
Pain prevention. A little
water can really go a long way. Aching joints and muscle cramps and strains can all
occur if the body is dehydrated.
Keep things flowing. Nobody wants to
deal with digestion issues. Luckily,
drinking enough water adds fluids to the colon which helps make things, ahem, move
smoothly.
Sickness fighter. Water may help with decongestion and
dehydration, helping the body bounce back when
feeling under the weather. Just beware — drinking fluids hasn’t been scientifically proven to beat colds in one swoop, so don’t swap
this f or a trip to the doctor or other cold remedies.
Brain boost. A study in London found a link between
students bringing water into an exam room and
better grades, suggesting H2O promotes clearer thinking. While it’s unclear if drinking the water had
anything to do with a better score, it doesn’t hurt to try it out!
Bottoms Up — Your Action Plan
The amount of water people need per day is up for debate, but
studies suggest adults need nine to 16 cups of H2O. However, this
number varies depending on activity level, age, and how much water people
are consuming in coffee, tea, or water-rich veggies and fruit. Here’s how
to keep yourself hydrated: Begin by drinking a glass of water as soon as you
wake up, and 30 minutes
bef ore eating any big meal. (This will help control
appetite, too.) Get in the habit of keeping a water bottle
on hand at all times. And if the taste beings to bore, spice up the taste buds
with a squeeze of citrus to the glass! Before you
know it, all the benefits of water will be right at your fingertips…. and in
your body.
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