What comes to mind when you think healthy living?
Exercise, diet, sleep are good ones.
But proper hydration should be just important to you.
A new study conducted at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) found that good hydration significantly reduced the risk of severe heart problems in the future. [R]
How much hydration are we talking?
For men, the recommended amount is 2-3 liters of fluids per day.
However, a better indication is urine color..
The clearer the better!
If you struggle to hit this amount, I’ll get to some practical tips in a bit.
But for now, I want to talk a little more about the stats related to heart failure in the US.
Heart failure affects more than 6.2 million Americans. It’s most common among adults over 65.
To avoid becoming a part of this statistic, drinking more fluids is crucial.
In addition to keeping your heart pumping, here are 5 more benefits of drinking enough water:
1. Water improves cognitive functioning:
80% of your brain is composed of water. Proper hydration supplies the brain with the optimal amount of water needed to support blood flow to the brain, keeping you sharp and focused.
2. It reduces stress
Cortisol, or the “stress hormone” is activated when the body is dehydrated. This stresses out our primal brains because it thinks we’re running out of resources.
3. It increases happiness
On the other side of the coin, reduced stress means increased happiness. Water also supports blood flow, allowing mood-boosting hormones like endorphins to traverse freely through the body.
4. It improves skin health
Water is proven to moisturize and increase elasticity of skin. This keeps you looking young and vibrant while reducing skin issues related to toxins, bacteria, and dryness.
5. It improves sleep quality
Another convenient side-effect of increased happiness and reduced stress is better sleep. Drink enough water and you’ll sleep like a baby and wake up energized and refreshed to take on another day.
We’d be here all day if I listed every benefit, but I think we’ve covered enough to encourage us all to drink up.
So, those tips I mentioned earlier?
Ironically, there are two contradictory methods that work well.
Method #1 is to always keep some water near you and take tiny whiskey-like sips every few minutes.
Method #2 is to not worry about drinking for a while and chugging an entire glass whenever you get a chance. Sometimes this involves setting alerts or timers, so you don’t forget.
The method you choose depends largely on your lifestyle.
Method #1 is ideal for those of us with desk jobs that can sit next to a glass of water.
Method #2 is ideal for those who move around and have unpredictable schedules.
Pick what works for you and stay hydrated!