Everybody knows that water is good for you. Our bodies are about 60% water and if we don't get enough of it we, well…die. Humans can survive up to three weeks without food, which I can't imagine being very pleasant, but only up to three days without water. Not convinced yet? Most places will give you ten reasons why water is good. Hah! I'll give you fifteen:
1. Get healthy skin. Drinking water moisturizes your skin from the inside out. It helps to maintain elasticity and suppleness – so those wrinkles won't be quite so pronounced – and helps prevent the skin from drying out or cracking. After only a couple of weeks of increased water intake, my skin is noticeably better
2. Flush toxins. Anything that helps get rid of the crap in your body is a good thing – and water does a great job of getting rid of crap. Water lessens the burden on your kidneys and liver (beer doesn't…)
3. Lose weight. People often confuse thirst with hunger. If you feel hungry, drink a glass of water first and wait a few minutes – you may notice your hunger pangs subsiding. Also, as water is flushing you out, it helps shift fat.
4. Reduce your risk of a heart attack. All the more reason to add more water to your diet
5. Increase your energy. Being properly hydrated means that your body can work more effectively, which results in less energy being needed for essential tasks. It's only been a couple of weeks since I upped my water intake, but there has been a marked increase in my energy and stamina levels. I no longer get drowsy during the day and I can comfortably run for thirty minutes or more without feeling tired or wanting to walk.
6. Lubricate your joints and muscles. Drinking water before and after exercise – also during if you are exercising for a long time – helps to reduce muscle cramping and gets lubrication to your joints.
7. Improve digestion. Water even lubricates the places you would probably rather not think about – your guts. Getting enough water can prevent constipation by adding fluid to the colon and bulk to your bum waste, making bowel movements softer and easier to pass. Fancy a sandwich now? Being a vegetarian, I've never been one to take a newspaper into the toilet and pray for the best, but it all helps.
8. It's cheap. Tap water is practically free and buying bottled water is generally cheaper than buying soft drinks and alcohol, unless you go for those ridiculously overpriced 'designer' waters. If you do buy these very expensive brands of water, give yourself a slap. A hard slap. Then buy a cheaper version. It's still water, and it's still good for you.
9. Regulate your body temperature. When you get hot, you sweat. In order to sweat, you need some fluid in your body.
10. Stay healthy. Water can help reduce you chances of developing all sorts of horrible things, from kidney stones to bladder and urinary tract infections.
11. Recover quicker. Doctors don't just tell you to 'drink lots of fluids' for the sake of it, it's advice that works. Water can help control a fever, replace lost fluids, and stop making you feel like you have bathed in mucus.
12. You can surf in it! And surfing is a good thing. A very good thing
13. You can swim in it. If surfing isn't your thing, swimming is a wonderful form of exercise.
14. Drinking water helps to save the planet. Probably.
15. You can throw it at people. Using a water pistol or a water balloon need not lose its appeal just because you are no longer five years old. (Having kids is a great excuse to muck around with water - at least I'm hoping so…).
