Our bodies are made up of about 60% water. It makes sense, then, that water is essential to our health and wellbeing. We are constantly losing fluids—through our skin, through our urine, and even through our breath—and if we don’t replenish our fluid levels then we run the risk of becoming dehydrated. As this article will explain, even very mild levels of dehydration have significant impact on our everyday capacity to perform well.
We all know that water is good for us, but most of us just don’t drink enough of it, reaching instead for a juice, a soda, or a coffee when we’re thirsty. I could tell you all the reasons those are bad for you (you’ll never drink diet soda again after reading this article), but instead I’ll explain why water is so essential for your health. Keep reading for 10 reasons why there is just no substitute for plain old H2O:
1) Water helps our brainpower. Healthline cites a study which showed that even very mild dehydration can impair aspects of our brain function. Another study showed that fluid loss of just over 1% in young men was detrimental to their working memories, and it led to higher rates of anxiety and low moods.
2) Your tummy will be healthier. According to Body and Soul, your stomach needs three key things for good digestion: fiber, exercise, and water. It keeps waste moving along your digestive tract properly and helps to prevent bloating.
3) It can lower your risk of cancer. Research has shown that being well hydrated can reduce your risk of colon cancer and bladder cancer by 45 – 50%, and it has been linked to a lowered risk of breast cancer too, according to Breaking Muscle.
4) Water contains no calories! Just think of the savings when you reach for a glass of water instead of a soda or a natural juice, which both land at around 150 calories (sweetened juice has twice as much!) according to WebMD. The same goes for food—foods that are high in water content are bigger, healthier, and more filling because they are absorbed more slowly by the body. This includes foods like fruit and vegetables, oats, beans, and broth-based soups.
5) Water relieves constipation.
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