The dog days of summer are upon us, and if you’re experiencing anything like the weather we’ve got here in India, you’re probably getting cozy with the nearest air conditioning unit. But let me propose another resource to get you through these hot, hot days – one you may think is too obvious to be even worth mentioning, but its importance cannot be overstated. Yes, it’s plain old water. Is there really anything “plain” about it, though? Most of us know that the human body is mostly made up of water and that maintaining good hydration is essential for good health, but what exactly is water doing in our bodies after we drink it?
- Lubricating. All of your muscles and joints need moisture and cushioning to work properly and avoid creating too much friction within the body. After you drink water, your cells absorb and allocate the water to plump up membrane, muscles, and cartilage.
- Transporting. Water is your body’s carrier service, whisking nutrients to where we need them. When we take in more resources than we need, or have any toxins in the body, water carries the waste out through sweat or urine. Water is like our own personal cleaning service, too!
- Replenishing. Especially in the heat of summer, your body loses a lot of water through sweating, digestion, and even breathing. Keep drinking to stay in tip-top shape!
- If that’s not enough to convince you, here are some more great benefits of getting your daily dose of H2O.
- Get great skin. Not only does drinking water help keep your skin moisturized, but water also plumps the skin to fill out wrinkles. Splashing your face with cold water can help shrink pores, too!
- Lose weight. Drink water first when you think you’re hungry for a snack – sometimes all you needed was a little hydration!
- Relieve aches and pains. Many times, headaches and other pains are just the result of dehydration!
- Boost brainpower and mood. A hydrated brain is a sharp and happy brain!
- Energize. Without enough water to transport nutrients within the body, other systems have to pick up the slack and work even harder. This can leave you feeling pretty sluggish, so fill up that water bottle again and get chugging!
- So don’t let the heat get the better of you and keep drinking plenty of water for your body to feel fit and happy all summer long!