Importance of Staying Hydrated

Water is an important part of wellness. Our body is made up of 60% water. As such, staying hydrated is key to staying healthy!

  • Flush out toxins: The removal of the waste products produced by our bodies is promoted when we stay hydrated. When you use the bathroom you get rid of things that your body does not need. When you drink more water, it helps your body get rid of it faster.
  • Protect your kidneys: Our kidneys are part of the body’s elimination systems. Part of its function is to help get rid of the toxins created by our bodies. When you stay hydrated, you provide more cleaning material for the kidneys. This protects the kidneys from damage or injury.
  • Maintain and improve blood pressure: Our blood comprises of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. More than half of the total blood volume is made up of plasma. Plasma is made up of about 90% water and 10% protein molecules, including enzymes, clotting agents, immune system components, plus other body essentials such as vitamins and hormones. By staying hydrated, there is enough blood volume for the body to perform its functions whilst maintaining the appropriate blood pressure.
  • Clear up your skin: The skin is the biggest organ of the human body and also one of the body’s elimination systems. As part of the toxin removal of the body, proper hydration clears up blemishes that affect the skin. Hydration also helps keep the skin moisturized and prevents dryness which makes the skin more susceptible to breakout, infections, and discoloration.
  • Assist and promote weight loss efforts: During exercise, our bodies burn fat tissue which we get rid of through hydration and subsequent elimination. Drinking water also helps reduce our portion sizes which also helps promote weight loss efforts.
  • Improve bowel function and reduce constipation: Hydration improves the movements of the bowels and colonic transit thereby reducing constipation. This is also another method through which the body gets rid of toxins.

How much water should I drink?

There are so many different answers to this question. The amount of water required is very dependent on the temperature so you must increase hydration in the summer due to the increase in loss of the body’s water content through sweat. However, at a minimum, regardless of the weather, drink 80 ounces of water daily. It is also important to increase hydration with sickness since the body needs additional water to flush out the toxins from the illness.