Excerpt: If you are someone who misses out on drinking eight glasses of water every day, we have some news for you. No, it isn't good news. In fact, we want you to know that you aren't doing yourself any good. But making your body rot bit-by-bit. There is a reason why your body needs water. Read on to know the benefits of drinking water and staying hydrated. 

Do you know how much water you should drink in a day? According to the Indian Council of Medical Research's Dietary Guidelines, an average healthy person would need about eight glasses or two litres of water a day. This is why doctors and paramedics always stress on drinking eight glasses of water daily. 

Wondering why you would need to drink so much water if you aren't thirsty? Well, water is not just for quenching your thirst. In fact, it keeps you hydrated and takes care of a host of metabolic and physiological functions within the body. It won't be an exaggeration if we say - water is the elixir of life. If your fluid levels are up, your body can function to its optimum. So, no matter how busy you are or how full you feel, never miss your eight glasses of water a day. 

Here, we listed a few reasons how drinking enough water throughout the day can be beneficial for you:

1. It helps to keep your brain active: Hydration has a direct connection with your brain functions. In fact, lack of fluid in the body can give rise to mood swings and affect concentration, especially in women. But it doesn't spare men either. Drinking less water can impair memory and increase feelings of fatigue and anxiety in men. No, we aren't exaggerating about this. 

Think how drained and sluggish you feel at your desk when you have gone for hours without taking a sip of water? Those are the cues your body gives out to you. Take those cues seriously and grab a bottle of water and hydrate yourself.

So, if you want to be more productive at your desk - keep sipping water! It is that simple. 

2. It pumps up your energy levels: You don't need any scientific evidence for this. Drinking water instantly refreshes you and helps you to regain some of your lost energy back, especially after some strenuous exercise or activity. This is why once you relax and hydrate yourself, your stamina goes up. In fact, research shows that losing 2% of body water (through sweat) can affect your mood, performance and induce fatigue—a reason why seasoned athletes keep sipping fluids in between their runs. 

3. It helps regulate body temperature: Do you know why our mothers and grandmothers emphasise on drinking enough water during the summers? Here is the reason: When it is sweltering and humid, the sweat glands are activated, bringing fluids, along with the body's salt, to the skin's surface. This is how sweat is formed. Once the sweat evaporates it cools the body.

So, the more you lose water from the surface, the more you have to drink to replenish yourself with fluids and keep your body’s temperature balanced. 

4. It can help relieve headaches: Well, let us tell you drinking a glass of water when you have a headache will not help you instantly. But if you increase your water intake, you can deal with your headaches better. Studies have shown that drinking an additional 1.5 litres of water a day can help you experience less episodes of the migraine.  

5. It can help to deal with constipation: Difficulty in passing stool or infrequent bowel movements can affect both the young and old with equal might. It is one of the most unpleasant feelings to deal with, but water can come to your rescue here too. This is why it is believed that having a warm glass of water in the morning can help relieve constipation. However, if you don't skip your eight glasses throughout the day, you don't have to rely on this remedy. Hydration beats constipation, unless it is due to a medical condition. 

6. It can keep your kidneys healthy: Staying hydrated is one of the many ways in which you can keep these vital organs healthy. Less water intake can lead to formation of kidney stones, weaken the organ and affect its functions. Higher fluid intake helps the kidneys to flush out the toxins from our body easily. Drinking enough water dilutes the concentration of minerals and salts being extracted by the kidneys and flushes them out. Low water intake would make the wastes crystallize and form clumps leading to kidney stones.   

7. It can keep your joints healthy: Drink, hydrate, replenish if you want to save yourself from arthritis in the later stages of life. Water helps to keep your joints lubricated and saves you from those aches and pains that affect mobility. 

8. It can aid in weight management: Yes, this is true. If you wonder why all that dieting is not helping you, try drinking eight glasses of water throughout the day. Water boosts metabolism and increases satiety; it also helps in digestion and keeping the gastrointestinal tract healthy. 

So, don't give yourself any excuse; just pick up the bottle and start sipping. 

How can dehydration affect you? 

Now that you know the benefits of drinking water, it is essential to know how lack of adequate fluids (dehydration) can affect your health. Dehydration can cause headaches, dizziness, lethargy, poor concentration and a dry mouth. Over a longer period, dehydration can lead to constipation, urinary tract infections and the formation of kidney stones.

Are you having enough water? 

Ideally, you should follow the thumb rule: drinking 8 glasses of water a day. But sometimes your body might need more water - if you are sick, into rigorous exercising, pregnant or suffer from dehydration. Your body will send the cues, be watchful of them - excessive thirst, dark coloured urine, fatigue, headaches, extreme lethargy. These are signs that you need to drink enough water. It is a good idea to get into the habit of drinking water regularly throughout the day. 

What if you don't feel like drinking water all the time? 

We understand this. Most people don't finish their daily quota of drinking 8 glasses of water daily because they aren't thirsty enough. Also, drinking water when you aren’t thirsty seems so unappealing. If that is your excuse, you can try out these wonderful beverage recipes. They are quick to make with a punch of goodness and taste so good. 

Tips to increase your water intake: 

• Have a glass of water after every snack or meal
• Keep reminders on your smartphone to drink enough water
• Eat more fruits and vegetables as they are high in water content
• Always carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go
• If you are stationed at your desk most part of the day, get up to take frequent water breaks

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