Ten Health Benefits of Drinking Enough Water

We all know that we're supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day... but what are the real benefits? Here are ten quick health benefits of drinking enough water.

1. Drinking enough water gives you healthier skin with fewer blemishes or wrinkles

2. Drinking enough water gives you a healthier mind and body with better nutrient absorption and more efficient chemical reactions in the body for better overall health, including proper brain function and improvements in memory.

3. Drinking enough water gives you more energy, since water is the medium in which all energy reactions take place.

4. Drinking enough water gives you a healthier digestive system, with better processing of food, better bowel function, and fewer digestive complaints. Drinking sufficient water helps the body process and transport nutrients and get rid of any waste products.

5. Drinking enough water reduces fatigue by making your body’s chemistry work more efficiently. If you become dehydrated you will become lethargic, experience cramping and endurance and strength performance will suffer.

6. Drinking enough water helps you lose weight. Water is a natural appetite suppressor and increases the body's ability to metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

7. Drinking enough water gives you healthier, stronger joints, since the fluid in your joints requires water to keep them lubricated and moving properly.

8. Drinking enough water reduces joint pain. Back pain can be improved with hydration, since water lubricates the joints. Cartilage found at the ends of long bones & between the vertebrae of the spine hold a lot of water, so increasing water intake replenishes the water in these tissues. When the cartilages are well hydrated, the joint glides freely, and friction damage is reduced. Not enough increases the rate of "abrasive" damage, leading to joint deterioration and increased pain.

9. Drinking enough water helps in weight loss, reduces fluid retention, helps build muscle, and increases muscle tone. Preventing dehydration will also help prevent sagging skin, since water will fill out the muscles, resulting in clear, healthy and resilient skin.

10. Drinking enough water reduces the risk of disease. Studies have shown that increasing daily water intake has shown to decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50% potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer. It is also believed that water may prevent many kidney stone and urinary tract infections.