Thirsty? Your body may be trying to tell you something, so listen up! The importance of keeping hydrated can’t be overstated; when the sensation of thirst is triggered, your body is asking for a refill.⁵ Why? Water is responsible for keeping your body functioning normally.¹ Yep, you need it to live.⁷ Dehydration of as little as 2% loss of body weight can affect your health and well-being.²

1. Water is essential for the proper circulation of nutrients to the body. Think of it as your body’s transportation system, without enough water, or when you experience dehydration, essential vitamins and minerals can’t get where they need to go.¹
2. Water is crucial to your digestive health. Our digestive system uses water to flush out waste and eliminate toxins. It helps dissolve fats and soluble fiber. Drinking enough water prevents digestive backup—add in fiber and it helps prevent constipation, too. ³
3. Water helps regulate your body temperature. Think about how you feel when you have a fever or after an intense workout. Your heart’s pumping, your muscles are aching and you’re sweating pretty heavily. Sweat is your body’s way of lowering your temperature and cooling down. Drinking enough water not only hydrates your body, but improves the elasticity of your skin. ³
4. Proper hydration also helps increase athletic performance. 75% of our muscle tissue is made of water.⁴ Low water levels can lead to weakness, exhaustion and a deficiency in electrolytes after physical activity.⁶
5. Water helps keep your joints fluid and moving sufficiently. Often times, joint pain is experienced because your body needs more water to keep your joints lubricated. ³

Just because your body needs water–after all, 2/3 of your body weight is made up of it⁷ – it doesn’t mean H2O is your only option. If you’re an athlete, for example, or just very active, supplementing your water with electrolytes can help maximize performance while maintaining hydration, too.⁸ Plan on spending a lot of time outdoors? Adding electrolytes to your warm weather plans will help you go that extra mile.

To ensure you're getting enough water, try these six ways to keep hydrated in extreme heat.

Tags

Bodybuilding Bone & Joint Health Digestion & Cleansing Digestive Health Hydration Joint Support Natural Foods Sports Nutrition

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