6 Reasons to Start Drinking More Water Right Away

Water is extremely important -- so much so that it makes up 60% of our bodies. If you don't drink enough water in any given day, you can feel the physical effects, including fatigue, irritability and headaches.

Dehydration can also impact your overall health and well being in more ways than you may think, leading to UTIs, digestion issues and even kidney issues. It turns out that water may be the cure to several common maladies, but some people still struggle to drink enough.

Tip. If you want to drink the daily recommended amount of water you just need to drink half your body weight in ounces.

Example: If you weigh 150lbs, you would need to drink 75 ounces

Here are some of the amazing things drinking enough water can do for you, and how to tell if you're hydrated. 

1. Healthy Skin

Do you know that drinking water helps to improve your complexion? That’s right. Skin cells are made from water and when they dehydrate they dry out and flake. Dull, wrinkled skin is one of the first signs of dehydration. Drink lots of water to keep that skin healthy and glowing!

2. Energy Levels

Water boosts your energy. Dehydration leads to fatigue because it impacts the flow of oxygen to the brain and causes your heart to work harder to pump oxygen to all your bodily organs, making you more tired and less alert. By staying hydrated you stay energized.

3. Brain Function

Do you know that a recent study published in the journal, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, showed that participants performed better and faster on cognitive tasks after drinking water? That’s right. If you want to give your brainpower a boost, try drinking some water in the afternoon when you start to feel tired.

4. Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Water speeds up metabolism. Research has shown that an increase in water consumption leads to an increase in the rate in which people burn calories as opposed to storing them as fat. Not to mention, research also shows that drinking a glass of water before meals curbs appetite, helping you eat less and become more satisfied.

5. Mood

Being even slightly dehydrated can affect your mood. Many people who don’t drink enough water suffer from headaches which (of course) can causing irritability.

While a little thirst won't make you brain-dead, one study showed that dehydrated people consistently had elevated fatigue, confusion and anger. The subjects also had issues with concentration, alertness, and short term memory. 

If you're feeling anxious, upset, and unable to focus, dehydration may be the cause.

6. Stress

Water reduces stress. Studies have shown that dehydration leads to higher cortisol levels—the stress hormone—making it harder to deal with everyday issues. By staying hydrated you will be better equipped to deal with everyday problems.

Generally, you should try to drink before you're thirsty. By the time you feel parched, you're already slightly dehydrated. Another way to keep tabs is to check your urine. It should be a pale yellow color. If it's dark yellow, it's time to drink some more water.