Around Christmas time this past year, my face was blowing up with acne. I had no reason why. It was frustrating and embarrassing. I was trying many different topical medications and different methods with little results. One day, I called my Mom. She suggested I try drinking 8 glasses of water a day to see if that would help clear my skin. Sure enough, it helped! Goes to show that number one, water is amazing, and number two, mothers are always right!

After this water miracle I decided to research more about the benefits of drinking plenty of water. Below are ten reasons why water should always be our drink of choice:

1. Balances your Bodily Fluids

60% of our bodies are made up of water. By keeping hydrated we are making sure our body can do certain jobs like, transporting nutrients, aiding in digestion, creating saliva and maintaining a proper body temperature.

2. Promotes Weight Loss

Numerous studies have shown connections between heavy water intake and loosing pounds. Drinking H2O before and during meals makes us feel full faster and may also boost metabolism. Fruits and vegetables that have high water content are also healthier for us and are good choices when making diet changes.

3. Keeps you Regular

The more water you drink, the less likely you are to be constipated. Drinking water regularly flushes waste, ahem, smoothly…and reduces the burden placed on our kidneys and livers.

4. Improves your Mood

Who knew drinking enough water could actually improve our state of mind? Of course you will feel better if you body is being taken care of. Even mild hydration has been linked with irritability.

5. Prevent Headaches

If you stay hydrated throughout the day, you will have no need to complain of headaches. Dehydration is linked as a migraine trigger. People who drink plenty of water have no need for Tylenol or Advil.

6. Prevents Joint and Muscle Pain

Cartilage is made up of 85% water. To keep our cartilage happy we need to stay hydrated. If our cartilage is happy our joints, spinal cord and tissues will be also. Staying hydrated also prevents muscle cramps and gives our muscles more energy to perform.

7. Keeps your Skin Clear.

Water flushes out certain toxins in our skin and reduces skin inflammation, which clogs our pores and causes acne. Clearly, this is something I learned first-hand. J

8. Builds a Hardy Immune System

There’s a reason doctors say to drink plenty of fluids when you’re sick; it’s because it works. Not only does it help when you’re body is sick, but drinking plenty of water can act in a preventative nature as well. Drinking a warm glass of water in the morning has been proven to clear up congestion.

9. Mind Alertness and Energy

Dehydration can hurt your attention span, memory and motor skills. Therefore, when you are hydrated, the opposite occurs. Also, the first sign of dehydration is fatigue, so if you want more energy, drink more water. If you are performing a hard job for a long period of time, keep a water bottle handy and drink frequent sips. One study even showed students who drank water during their exams performed better.

10. IT’S FREE!!!

Gosh dang it, it’s free! Why bother paying money for soda, or lemonade to replenish your thirst? Making a commitment to drinking more water is also making a commitment to save you financially.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go grab another glass of water…

Keep hydrated this summer!