10 reasons to drink more water

Get slimmer, look younger, exercise better, avoid headaches and more by simply drinking more water


Posted: 8 August 2012
by Nadya Ahmed


Drinking water: the key to good health

The Government advises us to drink around eight glasses of water a day – that’s 2-3 litres. Here’s why...

  1. Weight Loss Drinking water is believed to be an extremely effective appetite suppressant and its filling. By drinking more, you’re less likely to feel hungry and will eat less. Dehydration also makes it harder for your body to break down fat cells so dieters who don’t drink enough water may find it harder to shed pounds.
  2. Metabolism Booster Don’t just sip, glug. Research has shown that drinking half a litre of water within 30-40 minutes can increase how fast your body burns calories by up to 30%.
  3. Exercise better Water helps fuel your muscles, so drinking before or during exercise will boost energy, as well as reduce the likelihood of cramps and sprains.
  4. Younger skin Recent research suggests that drinking water combats dry skin, flushing out toxins and bacteria. So preventing dehydration improves the appearance of skin giving a healthier and more youthful look.
  5. Headache cure. Reach for a glass before popping a pill. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of headaches. Maintaining a regular water intake should combat most headaches even those brought about by fatigue.
  6. Increased productivity A regular supply of water to your body helps your brain work at a better pace and helps you concentrate. Just as your car will go further with more fuel, your productivity levels will increase with more water.
  7. Improved immunity Drinking water helps to fight against colds and flu and prevents salts accumulating in the kidneys which form kidney stones. It also maintains the thickness of blood plasma avoiding cardiovascular complications In addition to preserving the correct shape of bones preventing arthritis.
  8. Healthy Digestion Water assists in the removal of toxins and waste from your body encouraging regular bowel movements and is crucial for a healthy gut. Drink water means no more constipation.
  9. Energy increase Hydrating your body increases its power to work to its full capacity. Not only will you avoid feeling tired, but you’ll never have an excuse to be lazy again.
  10. Feel happier Water encourages the flow of nutrients and hormones around your body releasing endorphins which make you feel happier. Your body is likely to feel in better condition too and as a consequence you will  not only look better but feel better too.

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Water, Healthy Body, Healthy Skin, Hydration, Dehydration, metabolism, headaches, immunity, diet
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Discuss this story

There are some great benefits to drinking water, namely maintaining good blood pressure and waylaying misleading signals from your body that you're hungry, but I'd like to see where and when the "Government" has advised us Brits to drink 2-3 litres of water a day. Much of this comes in the form of moisture contained in food. The British Nutrition Foundation recommends 1.5 - 2 litres a day and that can include tea or even coffee. The UK Food Standards Agency recommends 6-8 glasses of fluids per day (1.5-1.8 litres). There is no scientific evidence that exceeding this amount improves health, skin tone, or reduces appetite. Furthermore, where is the evidence that the fluid has to take the form of water? In one blind trial of two twins, where one drank water and the other drank coffee, tea and diet coke, there was no discernible difference in skin appearance and moisturisation after five days. Get your facts straight, Zest!

Posted: 27/03/2012 at 11:10

Im Sorry Jessica but you can quote who ever you like but really are you going to start saying that diet coke laden with chemicals and coffee as as good for you as water? common sense come on and also the article is titled 10 reasons to drink more WATER Clues in the title!

Posted: 11/04/2012 at 11:15

I'm pretty sure that if I study was done that was more than just five days then you would see a difference! It doesn't take an expert to realise that water must be better for your hydration than coffee and tea which are proven diuretics!


Posted: 11/04/2012 at 11:58

I'm with Sherri - Ill bet that if you went back to look in say, a month or two, that the person drinking the caffiene rich drinks would be sluggish, tired, dehydrated and definately worse off that their water drinking counterpart. 

Proof or not, 2-3 litres is a good enough goal as any, and WILL help to keep you better hydrated, especially if you're excercising a lot. Surely thats just common sense. And i would much rather be consuming 2 litres of water a day than 2 litres of caffine rich coffee or bloat inducing fizzy drinks. 


Posted: 11/04/2012 at 14:22

If you have common sense,you would know that caffeine is not good for the body.Water is something natural,not mixed with chemical.
I guess you need to start working out and know the importance of water in the body.

You might look very healthy with perfect skin for now without the intake of much water,but when you're growing more older,your skin would tell by its wrinkles.

Posted: 15/09/2012 at 03:26

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