Drink Up: 10 Reasons Water is a Key Ingredient in Your Good Health

Author: Rosetta Danigole, University Medical Center Lead Dietician

Water is an essential nutrient and a thirst quencher that can also trim our waistlines.

Here are 10 reasons you should be drinking enough water daily:

1. Boosts Your Metabolism

Drinking water helps the body burn fat. Studies show that drinking 17 ounces of water can increase the metabolic rate by 30% in both men and women. Even mild dehydration can slow down metabolic rate by 3%. So drink up and burn fat.

2. Fills you up

If you’re feeling hungry, try sipping some water first because what feels like hunger might be thirst. When you drink water between meals, you’re less likely to overeat and you won’t eat as much junk.

3. Naturally helps your body release fat cells

Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot of waste to rid itself of and metabolized fat must be shed. Water helps flush out the waste. Therefore your cells shrink when they are plumped up by water.

4. Keeps food moving through your system

Staying hydrated helps your body break down food so that your body can absorb nutrients. Water also softens stool which helps prevent constipation.

5. Flushes toxins from your system

Your kidneys and liver get rid of toxins. Water helps the kidneys to have enough fluid to function properly leading to flushing out metabolized waste.

6. Improves your mood

Mild dehydration leads to moodiness, problems concentrating and fatigue in a recent study. Remember 85% of your brain tissue is made up of water.

7. Reduces muscle fatigue while working out

Blood flow to the muscle is reduced when dehydrated.

8. Helps you recuperate faster from a workout

Water helps keep the body in homeostasis and electrolyte balance.

9. Keeps your organs healthy while you’re sweating

Our organs are made of high concentrations of water, and we need to stay.

10. Keeps you from feeling groggy in the morning

Drinking a few glasses of water in the morning will help to wake you up.

Don’t like the taste of water? Try infusing it with lemons, limes, cucumber, and mint for a tasty and healthful summer drink.

Sugary sodas, lemonade, and sweet tea or smoothies — although refreshing – for some can pack a lot of empty inflammatory-type calories.

Please remember to drink your water and stay hydrated!

About the Author

As the lead dietitian at University Medical Center New Orleans, Rosetta Danigole manages clinical dietetic operations. She is a member of the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition and belongs to the clinical dietitian practice group. She has