Drink More Water - The Good Habits Club - September Self Care Goal

Drinking Water Leads to Better Health
Drink water first thing in the morning and the rest of day will rock.

1. How much water should I drink?

Health professionals say the minimum amount we should all be drinking  averages five glasses of water a day. Half of your body weight to ounces. For example, if you are 150 lbs you need about 75 oz of water throughout the day.

We added our favorite water bottle to the September Box. Check it out!

2. Lose Weight Just By Drinking Water!

Woohoo - that's pretty awesome. So, enough with the excuses! Drink water and be leaner. Studies of older adults have shown that drinking water before each meal may increase weight loss by 24.4 lbs over a 12-week period. In one study, middle-aged overweight and obese participants who drank water before each meal lost 44% more weight, compared to a group that did not drink more water

Why water aids in weight loss:

• Water is an appetite suppressant, fill you up and you're less likely to overeat.
• Zero calories
• Flush toxins out of your body
• When you drink enough water your body will not try to retain fluid

3. Healthier, Brighter Looking Skin

The largest organ in your body! Who doesn't want younger looking skin? People spend thousands of dollars every year trying to achieve it, with lotions, potions, suctions and injections. Water is not a cure-all, but it sure can help. "Water can have a significant impact in skin health,” says Dr. Steven Deliduka, board-certified dermatologist.“Without adequate water intake, skin appears duller, and wrinkles and pores more prominent. Proper hydration levels help the skin to become plump and improves its elasticity meaning it’s less likely to crack and have irritations and blemishes.”

7 Ways Water Helps Skin:

1. Sagging Skin
2. pH Balance
3. Flush Toxins
4. Reduce Wrinkles
5. Prevents Pimples and Acne
6. Moisturize
7. Elasticity

When you drink enough water your skin feels healthier and there are less lines or wrinkles. It glistens and many people feel their skin is glowing when they are drinking enough. It is not something that happens immediately, but over time it can have a really positive effect.

4. Water Helps Flush Out Toxins

Our bodies normally get rid of toxins daily. But water keeps our organs functioning well, it lubricates our joints, and regulates our body temperature and metabolism. Moreover, water flushes toxins and waste from the body and transports nutrients to where they are needed. Without water, the contents of your colon can dry out and get stuck, eventually causing constipation. Water is a natural lubricant that softens stool and promotes evacuation of the bowels.

Water is also important to kidney systems. Our kidney system is unique in its filtering capabilities and totally dependent upon water in order for it to work. The kidneys remove waste products from the blood, eliminate toxic substances in the urine, and receive water-soluble toxins from the liver for processing. They filter voluminous amounts of blood each day and in doing so maintain the body’s water balance and excrete toxins and excess fluid through the bladder. Daily fluid intake is essential for our bodies to function efficiently.

In our food, additives and dyes can leave behind toxins. This is most prevalent in highly processed food, which is the type of food that makes up a significant portion of many people’s diet.

Water helps your system to constantly flush itself out, which removes many of these toxins. You will still get sick, but it is less likely than if you are dehydrated.

5. Water Makes Your Brain Work Better

Drinking plenty can help with concentration by improving your mental alertness and ability to perform complex tasks. The brain needs oxygen to work. That is not surprising given so much of it is made up of water. To perform at its optimum level water helps the brain get the oxygen it needs. Concentration, mental alertness and cognitive performance have been shown to increase by as much as 30 percent when you're hydrated!

You won't feel so tired, because being dehydrated can make you feel tired. When you feel tired your brain does not operate at its best. So simply drinking enough water can maintain good energy levels and therefore help you concentrate and work harder.

6. Better General Health

Just by drinking water, your overall health and well being can be improved. Your kidneys will work better with water intake, if not, the kidneys retain fluids for essential bodily functions. With that retained water comes a lot of substances you really do not want in your system. Your kidneys get rid of toxins and other things our bodies do not want or need. Plenty of water means they can keep flushing out - and ultimately down the toilet - excess fluids and, along with that, plenty of toxins.

If you are not drinking enough water, your heart has to work harder to get blood and oxygen to all the parts of your body. Water increases the amount of oxygen in your blood so the entire process works more efficiently by putting your heart under less strain and ensuring all your vital organs get sufficient levels.

Water plays a significant role in the process of muscle recovery - from helping digest vital nutrients to repairing muscles damaged during exercise. Remember that our muscles are actually 75% water!  Water helps hydrate discs between the vertebrae in your spine and prevents your tendons, ligaments, and muscles from becoming tight and stiff. Proper hydration can help reduce pain and protect your joints and muscles by keeping the cartilage soft and pliable.

7. You can eat your water too!

Vegetables that are more than 90% water

• Bell pepper
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Pumpkin
• Radish
• Spinach
• Tomato
• Zucchini 

8. Many Fruits that are more than 85% water

• Apricot
• Blueberry
• Cantaloupe
• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Pineapple
• Strawberry
• Watermelon