It’s plain and simple, if you want to get maximum results out of your body, you need to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This is especially true when you are exercising or when you are in high heat. When you are dehydrated, it is estimated that you can lose as little as 2% of your body’s water content. However, it’s not uncommon for those who exercise frequently to lose as much as 6-10% of their water weight via sweat. 
You Get the Most Out of Your Body
If you’re not drinking enough water, your body temperature control can alter, leading to reduced motivation and increased fatigue. Dehydration can also cause exercises to be more taxing on your body, both physically and mentally. Optimal hydration has been shown to prevent this from happening, and it may even reduce the oxidative stress that occurs during high-intensity exercise.
Get the Most Out of Your Brain
Your brains and muscles aren’t the only things that are strongly influenced by the hydration status of your body. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration can greatly impair many aspects of brain function. Fluid loss as low as 1.4% after exercise can impair both mood and concentration and it can also lead to frequent headaches.
Low hydration levels can also lead to memory loss, increased feelings of anxiety, and feelings of fatigue. A fluid loss of anywhere between 1-3% can easily occur through normal daily activities that don’t involve exercise or high heat. This means either of those things, paired with normal fluid loss, can lead to a massive decrease in cognitive function.
Prevent Headaches
If you suffer from frequent headaches, you don’t need us to tell you how demobilizing a severe headache can be. When dealing with a headache, even mundane everyday activities and chores can become nearly impossible. Unfortunately, headaches are the most common symptom of dehydration.
Not only can staying hydrated help decrease the chances of headaches, but it can also help prevent headaches altogether. Studies found that 47% of those who drink more water report headache improvement over time. There needs to be research done on this to come to a definitive conclusion, but for the most part, experts believe that staying hydrated can help prevent headaches.
Treat Kidney Stones
Unfortunately, many Americans will have to deal with urinary stones at least once in their lifetime. Urinary stones are painful clumps of mineral crystal that form in the urinary system. The most common form is kidney stones, which form in the kidneys. Luckily, experts believe that you may be able to treat kidney stones by staying hydrated.
While more research needs to be done, some experts believe that staying hydrated may be able to prevent recurrence in people who have previously gotten kidney stones. Higher fluid intake increases the volume of urine passing through the kidneys. This dilutes the concentration of minerals, so they’re less likely to crystallize and form clumps. Water may also be able to prevent the initial formation of stones, but this has yet to be confirmed by a study.
Prevent Hangovers
There’s no reason to hide it, we’ve all fallen victim to a debilitating hangover or two in our lifetimes! During these nasty hangovers, you may find yourself wondering, “how can I prevent something like this from happening again?” Believe it or not, the easiest solution is to avoid drinking an excessive amount of alcohol. But if that isn’t an option, staying hydrated can help prevent them from occurring.
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you lose more water than you take in, which can lead to dehydration. While dehydration isn’t the main cause of hangovers, it can cause symptoms like thirst, fatigue, headache, and dry mouth. One of the best ways to prevent a hangover is to drink a glass of water between drinks and have at least one big glass of water before going to bed.
Staying Hydrated Can Help You Lose Weight
We’re all looking for ways that we can lose weight faster and more importantly, keep the weight off for good. Experts believe that drinking plenty of water can help aid in the weight loss process and can help boost our metabolism. By slightly increasing your metabolism, you can increase the number of calories you burn on a regular basis.
The timing is important too. Drinking water half an hour before meals is the most effective. It can make you feel more full so that you eat fewer calories. When it comes to losing weight, how much you eat is just as important as what you eat.
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