What Happens To Your Body When You Drink More Water?

NBA All-Star Stephen Curry once said, “Drinking water is essential to a healthy lifestyle.”
As an athlete, Curry knows he needs to keep his body hydrated to perform at his best. When working hard, athletes can lose 6-10% of their water weight through sweating. This means it’s important for them to stay hydrated. Losing just 2% of your water weight can negatively affect your body and how it performs physically.

What does water do for my body?

Water and proper hydration are important for so many reasons for your body.
•    Joints: The cartilage that keeps your joints working smoothly and pain free contains around 80% water. Being fully hydrated allows your joints to have proper cushion and shock absorption, meaning no pain and less wear and tear on your joints.
•    Skin: Proper hydration allows your skin to have the elasticity it needs to avoid wrinkles, dry skin, and premature aging. It also helps maintain a clearer complexion.
•    Brain and Nervous System: Your brain and nervous system need proper hydration for cushioning to protect them. Dehydration can also lead to brain fog and decreased cognitive function, and negatively affect hormones and neurotransmitters.
•    Body Temperature: Water helps regulate your body temperature. On hot days, it works to keep your body cool.
•    Digestion: Your digestive system can more easily break down food, absorb nutrients, and dissolve fiber and fats when properly hydrated. Water also helps prevent constipation, keeping your stool soft and able to easily pass through your digestive system.
•    Flushes out Toxins: When you’re hydrated, your body is able to produce sweat and urine. Sweat and urine help flush toxins out of your system. Drinking water also supports kidney function, reducing the risk of a urinary tract infection.

How much water do I need?

The amount of water everyone needs daily varies from person to person. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), daily water recommendations can vary based on a person’s age, sex, whether they are pregnant or breast feeding, and more. The Institute of Medicine recommends 13 cups of water per day for men, 9 cups for women, 10 cups for pregnant women, and 12 cups for women who are breastfeeding. Age and weight play a role in how much daily water is recommended for children. A toddler 1-3 years old should have about 4 cups of water per day, while children 4-8 years old should have about 5 cups. Pre-teens and teenagers need about 6-8 cups of water per day. Infants 6 months old and younger should not have plain water. Their stomachs are still very small, and they need the space for breastmilk or formula.

What are some tips to make sure I drink enough water?

The majority of your water intake comes from water and other beverages you drink throughout the day, and some comes from the foods you eat. Fruits and vegetables have a high-water content, along with vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
Help yourself drink water throughout the day by carrying a refillable water bottle. Having your water bottle within arm's reach means the moment you feel thirst, you can quench it immediately. Have your kids bring their water bottle outside with them. When active, both outside and inside, be sure to take regular water breaks to keep yourself hydrated.
Tired of plain water? Change it up a little bit! Adding fresh fruit to your water can change the taste and make drinking water a little more enjoyable. Try lemon or lime wedges, or even some cucumber slices to make your water refreshing.
Cut back on sugary drinks and soda. Order water when you go out to eat, it will save you money too! Swap a sugary soda for a seltzer water.
Make sure you have great tasting water readily available at home.

How can I get great tasting drinking water at home?

Not happy with the taste of your tap water at home? Worried there might be contaminants in your water at home? 
The WaterCare family of water treatment products offer many solutions for great water in your home. The first thing that happens when you call an authorized WaterCare dealer, they will schedule an in-home consultation and do a water test. Based on these results, they will recommend the right solution for the water in your home. Whether the test shows hard water, iron in your water, bad odors, or more, your WaterCare dealer will have the water softener, water filter, or water conditioner for your needs. 
For great drinking water, a reverse osmosis drinking water system can be installed to make sure you have great tasting water for drinking, cooking, and more, right at your fingertips. The Clear Flo® reverse osmosis drinking water system helps remove particles and impurities, sending only the best water through your tap for your family. The UltroWater® reverse osmosis drinking water system is certified for the reduction of arsenic, copper, fluoride, lead, nitrates, and more. You can rest assured knowing the drinking water you have from an UltroWater system is not only great tasting, but safe for your family.
There are WaterCare dealers throughout the United States. Click here to find one near you!