Are you hungry all the time, feel thirsty, fatigued, and have a headache? You may be dehydrated. There are benefits of drinking water!

Making sure you get your water in daily is an important part of taking care of your health and well-being. If you are feeling tired and weak especially during the summer months, this could mean that you are not drinking enough water. Our bodies are made of up to 60% water so not only is it essential to our kidney and liver health, we need it to survive.

It is easy to get caught up in our day to day lives and forget to drink water. Here in Las Vegas we have long, hot summers and should make sure we stay hydrated. Becoming dehydrated is dangerous and can lead to fatigue, joint and muscle pain, headaches, digestive issues, and severe dehydration leads to hospitalization. Do not find yourself in a place where you have a heat injury, seizures, or kidney stones because you didn’t pay attention to staying hydrated.

Not only does drinking water keep you hydrated it carries nutrients and oxygen to cells and makes your brain work better. Every cell in the body is made of water, so even if you are eating healthy but not drinking enough water your body could have trouble breaking down food and absorbing the nutrients you eat. This can mean fatigue, low energy, and nutrient deficiencies.

I cannot say this enough; avoid drinking your calories as much as possible. Juices do not hydrate and ultimately store fat due to their high sugar content.  A six-ounce glass of juice can contain anywhere from 16 to 30 grams of sugar; and most people don’t have just one glass, they usually have several per day. That is not much better than indulging in a dessert and add the two together and think of what that can do to your body over time. Simply making the change to limit juices, sodas, and added sugar to special-occasions-only will allow you to see big changes in your health in a short amount of time.  If you feel a strong craving for juice, drink a bottle of water or unsweetened tea first and see if you still want the juice, chances are that you will not.  

Making sure you get the proper water intake does not have to be difficult. Here are some easy, low pressure ways to make sure that you are getting your water intake in daily.

Start off small. Consistency is key. If you give yourself a goal of a gallon a day, it can be overwhelming. Start off telling yourself that you will drink four 16.9-ounce bottles of water per day, form that habit, and continue to slowly increase your intake.

Drink a bottle of water before every meal. Not only does this help you stay hydrated, but it will curb your appetite and make you less likely to drink your calories or overeat.

Start drinking water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Make it a morning routine along with getting dressed and your other morning duties. By doing this in the morning, you will be surprised by how much water you drink before and during your morning commute.

Get an accountability partner. This can be a person or can even be a phone app that reminds you to make sure you get your water intake daily.

You must make drinking water a priority if you want to see positive results in your health. Staying hydrated has many benefits such as helping with weight loss, healthy skin, helps maintain blood pressure, and many other health benefits. By making these small changes, I guarantee you will see some positive changes to your health over time.