4 Reasons why you should never be tired of drinking enough water!

All plants and animals require water. There can be no life on earth without water. More than 60% of our body weight is water. Water is an integral part of all the biochemical processes that go on in our body. 

We lose a lot of water through urine and sweat, hence it becomes imperative that we pay attention to the amount that we drink everyday.

Lets see the different ways water impact our life –

• Water is required for various processes in our body

• Water constitutes a major part of blood and plasma – that is responsible for the exchange of nutrients, hormones and oxygen throughout the body.
• Water is also a part of various biological processes going on in the body right from digestion to elimination of wastes. 
• Maintains electrolyte balance in our body.
• Good hydration is required for optimal brain function. Research has shown that inadequate water intake can negatively impact our focus, alertness, and short-term memory.
• Water is the main component of saliva. It’s critical for breaking down solid food and keeping our mouth free from germs.
• Drinking water helps to boost our metabolic rate. This boost has a positive impact on our energy levels. One study reported that, Drinking 500 milliliters of water can boost the metabolic rate by 30 percent in both men and women.

• Maintains body temperature

Staying hydrated is critical to maintaining a normal body temperature. Our bodies lose water when we sweat, and in hot environments. Sweat keeps our bodies cool, but our body temperatures will go up if we don’t replenish the water we lose. That lack of water causes dehydration, which in turn causes levels of electrolytes and plasma to drop.

• Water is an important component of tissues, joints and spinal cord

Water cushions and lubricates the joints. They are responsible to keep the tissues hydrated and intact instead of shrinking. Good hydration is also responsible for spinal health. Dehydration can compromise our body’s ability to rehydrate our spinal discs which results in complications that may include premature degeneration of our spine.

How much water do we need?

Although each individual is different when it comes to the requirement of water, the minimal intake required to carry out all the important functions as mentioned above is around 8-10 glasses or 2 liters of water.

Factors that increase your fluid needs include exercise, hot weather, high altitude, a high-fiber diet, and increased losses from caffeine and alcohol intake.

The requirement of water will increase if you are staying in a warm climatic zone. The requirement is also higher for athletes and people who are involved in high intensity work like construction workers or farmers.

A practical way to monitor hydration is by observing the color of your urine right after you get up in the morning. Straw- or lemonade-colored urine is a sign of appropriate hydration. Dark-colored urine — about the color of apple juice — indicates dehydration.