CREDIT: KERRA SEAY
Water does nothing but good to your body, so do yourself a favour and drink it.

Water is without question, the most critical component among the body’s six essential nutrients. It constitutes well over half the human body, taking up approximately 60 to 75 per cent of muscle weight and 90 per cent of blood according to Water: Drink To Your Health by Charlotte Lyons.

The body’s functional capacity heavily depends on water as it helps assist every working system. Water is imperative in terms of transporting nutrients, oxygen and other substances around the body, removing of waste products and toxins, controlling body temperature and acting as a lubricant around joints according to an article in Nutrition & Food Science.

As follows, inadequate water intake will manifest in a difficulty to concentrate, poor digestion, fatigue, constipation alongside many other symptoms according to Lyons. It is also likely that you could experience restricted joint movement as the lubricating substance between joints start to minimize.

The recommended daily intake for adults is generally eight, eightounce cups of water. That is without factoring in size, age, climate and the nature of physical activity according to an article in Jet magazine. If at any point where you experience dehydration due to taxing physical activity or extreme weather conditions, the recommended intake should be increased.

When you start to drink water regularly, health benefits become evidently clear. Blood flow will regulate much more efficiently, providing working organs, such as the brain, with optimal nutrients and oxygen according to an article in Nutrition & Food Science.

As a matter of fact, your cognitive function will improve substantially because of this. Your mood and energy levels will see an advantageous hike, in turn elevating both your state of mind and your physical performance according to the same article. By drinking water you are creating a positive and affective physiological state to continue the behaviour of consuming water regularly.

Not only can water aid in brain function, it can also assist in metabolizing the body’s stored fat as well as acting as a natural appetite suppressant. This is especially important to those wanting to lose weight. Normal kidney function is dependent on sufficient water availability. Without proper water intake, our livers, which are primarily used for metabolizing fat, will have to compensate for the kidney’s function according to Lyons. Correspondingly, more fat will remain in our body due to the liver’s inability to work at full capacity.

The accompanying factors for proper hydration is quite literally, beneficial from head to toe.

Moving forward, if you fall under as more of a soft drink, caffeinated or energy-drink consumer, you do not need to eliminate those options completely. To counterbalance, you should consume a cup of water for every cup of the listed liquids above according to Lyons.

If you are having a hard time starting the habit, try starting off small; you do not have to necessarily submerge yourself into consuming eight cups per day, but rather, establish small attainable steps appropriate for yourself. This could mean keeping a glass of water within hand’s reach when you wake up or even before you go to bed.

If you are not quite sure on initiating change, consider keeping a bottle with you at all times. Even better, bring a bottle that is aesthetically pleasing to you, this will induce motivation to drink water. You can even try and substitute your pop or coffee with water during your meals.

Start your day off by drinking an entire glass and then end your night accordingly, which alone is half the recommended daily intake. Or if you find water unfavourable, add in slices of your favourite fruit to make the taste more appealing to your palate.

When you look around, it is guaranteed that surrounding individuals, being your colleagues, fellow students or strangers are carrying with them bottled water. Without a doubt, you have the capacity to do so too.