Drink up! The Top 15 Reasons You Should Drink Water Every Day

This is how I start most mornings...

Hot Water & Lemon.

... even so, I struggle to drink enough water every day which can result in feeling the effects of dehydration from time to time. So I'm working on increasing my water consumption especially in the summer. 

How are your habits around hydration? Do you ever experience constipation, chapped lips or dry skin? If so, you might want to take stock in how much H2O you're putting in you body. Luckily consuming watery foods like green juice, watermelon, grapefruit, apples, lettuce, and cucumbers all count toward the 3-5 tall glasses of water we should drink every day. 

As a culture, we don’t drink enough water, and no fluid is more important to us than pure water. About seventy five percent of the human body is water.  So understandably, drinking plenty of fluids to maintain and replenish water levels is vital for things like muscle function, joint and brain protection, immune health, digestion, and even mood.

Here are some of the benefits of staying hydrated.

1. Weight loss

2. Healthy bowel function

3. Muscle efficiency

4. Balanced mood

5. Body temperature control

6. Improved memory function

7. Joint lubrication

8. Efficient digestion

9. Immune healthFlushes out toxins

10. Staves off hunger

11. Increases energy

12. Relieves fatigue

13. Reduces headaches

14. Regular urination

15. Cleanses the body

Here are some mild to moderate dehydration symptoms.

1. Dry, sticky mouth

2.  Sleepiness

3. Lethargy

4. Dizziness or lightheadedness

5. Thirst

6. Decreased urine

7. Few or no tears when crying

8. Dry skin

9. Headache

10. Constipation

As you start to become dehydrated, you may not immediately notice it. You get a little thirsty and develop chapped lips or dry skin. You may develop headaches as it may begin to affect your mood. Long term, dehydration can lead to ailments, joint issues, elevated blood pressure, and extra wear and tear on your organs. Chronic dehydration causes the body to operate in a much less than optimal way.v

In the words of W.H. Auden, “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.”

Below are recipes for two quick, delicious and very hydrating beverages. 

Infused Water

Ingredients

• 6 Strawberies

• 1/4 Cucumbers

• 1/2 Lemon

Process

• Place all produce in one large jar of cold spring water. 

• Let soak for 2 hours in the fridge.

• Drink Lots of it!

The Rawception Rawsmopolitan

Ingredients

• 1 C fermented coconut water kefir

• 1 Tbs. unsweetened organic cranberry juice

• 1 Tbs. fresh squeezed lime juice

• 1 twist of lemon rind

Process for the coconut kefir

• In a glass jar, empty the water from one coconut.

• Add kefir grains and let ferment overnight for 24-36 hours.

• Strain out grains.

Process

• Mix all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker.

• Shake well and pour into a martini glass. 

• Cheers! 

Rawsmopolitan

For more hydrating beverages, juices, smoothes see my Energy Diet: Module 1 on my ebook page!