Hydration Health Benefits & Hacks

April 10, 2023

Happy Easter!

With the temperatures steadily rising and spring fever catching, everyone is more than ready for Spring and Summer. :)

And it might seem a little premature to be talking about hydration before it’s actually hot outside, but hydration is for all seasons!

Did you know that our bodies are made up of ~60% water!

Water is a vital element that is essential for all of our body’s functions including digestion, absorption, circulation, and excretion. Staying hydrated is one easy way to maintain good health, while on the other hand, dehydration can lead to a bunch of easily avoidable health problems.

What is Hydration?

The more I interact with people who are looking for health advice, especially natural health tips, the more surprised I am by what is and isn’t considered common knowledge. 

Like hydration. What is it? 

Well, hydration is the process of providing your body with the fluid it needs in order to function well. 

Water is the primary source of hydration (as it should always be). And dehydration occurs when your body loses more water than you’re taking in.

Health Benefits of Hydration

1. Helps Maintain Body Temperature

This one’s a no brainer. Just think about working out and sweating. 

When we sweat, our body releases heat, and the evaporation of sweat cools us down. 

That’s a great thing, but, if we are dehydrated and don’t have enough fluids to produce sweat, we can easily overheat and feel heat exhaustion or in extreme cases even heatstroke. 🥵

2. Aids in Digestion and Absorption

It makes sense when you think about it. 

Squishy wet food is easier to digest than dry hard food. So, not surprisingly, drinking enough water is necessary for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. 

Water helps break down food as well as move it through the digestive system. 

Water also helps us absorb nutrients from the food we eat. 

If we are dehydrated, our digestive system will also become sluggish and contribute to constipation, digestive issues, and even weight gain. 

3. Promotes Kidney Function

The kidneys’ basic function is to filter waste products from the blood and removing them from our systems. 

Drinking enough water makes their job so much easier while preventing the buildup of waste products in the body. 

For example, urine is darker in the morning because your kidneys have been busy cleaning all night.

4. Helps Maintain Healthy Skin

This is like a bonus benefit to hydration: natural skincare. 

Water is essential for maintaining healthy skin by keeping the skin hydrated, which promotes elasticity. And if you are effectively flushing most toxins out through your kidneys, they’ll be less likely to come out through your skin which can lead to a clearer face. 

The flipside to that is that when skin is dry it easily becomes flaky and shows aging like wrinkles and sagginess much easier.

5. Boosts Energy and Reduces Fatigue

A lot of people blame the heat or the sun for making them feel enervated and tired when actually it’s dehydration. 

Drinking enough helps you keep up your energy by maintaining proper blood flow and oxygen levels. 

When blood and oxygen are flowing it is much much easier for your body to transport nutrients, which can make you feel multiple times better.

6. Improves Brain Function

Even if you’re not a student or in a thought-heavy job, your brain is thinking and functioning all day every day 24/7. So give it what it wants!

Your brain is made up of 75% water (even more than the rest of your body which if you remember is only ~60%), and dehydration can lead to brain fog and sluggish thinking. 

Hydrate to improve concentration, focus, and memory.

So... How Much Water Should I Drink?

Isn’t that the question you’ve all been thinking. lol!

Well, that depends.

Which might not sound like a super helpful answer, but it is the truth.

There are so many theories and ideas about how much water to drink in a day. But in general the amount of water you need to drink each day depends on you; your age, sex, weight, activity level, and even climate. 

The Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink about 3.7 liters (~125 ounces) of water per day, and women drink about 2.7 liters (~91 ounces) of water per day. 

But like I said it’s not a one-size-fits-all type of thing, and some people may need more or less water depending on their individual needs.

I think it’s also a bit cultural because I noticed that my Korean friends hardly drank any water at all, instead they all drank different teas and watery soups. Worked for them, but I definitely needed some plain liquid water.  

Tips for Staying Hydrated

These are the two best tips I use to stay hydrated.

1. Carry a Water Bottle/Make Drinking Water Easy and Convenient

Carrying a water bottle with you wherever you go can help you stay hydrated throughout the day. It also serves as a reminder to drink water regularly.

2. Set Reminders

Set reminders on your phone or computer to remind you to drink water throughout the day. You can also use an app that tracks your water.

3. Make it Fun!

If you are one of those people who doesn’t like the taste of water, 

number one, practice drinking water (you’ll get used to it) 

number two, try adding a spritz of lemon or a slice of cucumber. It looks pretty and tastes great!

So there you have it. Before the heat and fun starts, grab some water. Your body with thank you!

All rights reserved ©The Modern Sage Life