8 Important Reasons To Drink More Water

While we may not need eight glasses, there are plenty of reasons to drink water.

In fact, drinking water (either plain or in the form of other fluids or foods) is essential to your health.

There are so many health dangers associated with not drinking water regularly because fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health to be maintained, however, these dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water, which doesn’t have negative side effects.

So, you can do yourself a favour by putting away the sugary drinks(soda, diet coke, etc) and making water the number one drink of choice.

Here's a list of what you stand to benefit with a drink of water:

• Body Fluid balance. The body is composed of 60 percent water. Drinking sufficient amount of water aids and maintains the body’s fluid balance, which helps in the transportation of nutrients in the body, regulate body temperature, digest food, and more.
• Aids Weight Loss. Drinking water helps with weight loss. Numerous studies have found a connection between water consumption and losing a few pounds. Food with high water content tends to look larger, its higher volume requires more chewing, and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full. Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, and beans.
• Water improves Muscle Function. Drinking enough fluids is important when exercising. Sweating at the gym causes water loss, which leads to muscle fatigue(tiredness). It is recommended that people start drinking fluids early during workouts, and drink them at regular intervals to replace fluids lost by sweating.
• Water improves skin look. Dehydration makes your skin look dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. You can also help "lock" moisture into your skin by using moisturizer, which creates a physical barrier to keep moisture in.
• Kidney function. Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells. The main toxin in the body is called blood urea nitrogen, a water-soluble waste that is able to pass through the kidneys to be excreted in the urine. Your kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate.
  When you're getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odour. When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odour increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions.
  If you chronically drink too little, you may be at higher risk for kidney stones.
• Hangover relief. If alchohol has got the best of you, help a hangover with a glass of water to hydrate the body and stop that pounding headache.
• Pain Relief. Aching joints and muscle cramps and strains can all occur if the body is dehydrated. A little water can really go a long way. 
• Water Helps Maintain Normal Bowel Function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don't get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration -- and the result is constipation. Adequate fluid and fiber is the perfect combination, because the fluid pumps up the fiber and acts like a broom to keep your bowel functioning properly.

Studies suggest adults need 9 to 16 cups of water a day. However this number varies depending on activity level, age, and how much water people are consuming in coffee, tea, or water-rich veggies and fruit.

Begin your day by drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up, and 30 minutes before eating any big meal. (This will make you feel full.). Develop a habit of always keeping a water bottle close by at all times.