We all know that drinking water is good for us, but many fail to realise just how much of our mental and physical health can be affected by our water intake… or lack thereof. For many of us, improving even one of these aspects of our health would make a huge difference, and when the answer is simply a few more glasses of water, we’re all for it! So, let’s discover some of these key benefits.

“There are so many reasons why increasing your water intake can improve your overall health.”

1. Increased hydration helps deliver oxygen throughout the body

Because our blood is made predominantly of water and our blood carries oxygen to the rest of the body, increased water intake can help deliver even more healing oxygen where your body needs it most.

2. Proper hydration helps nutrients and minerals absorb

All of the healthy nutrients and minerals we get from our food and supplements need water to help them dissolve and distribute to the rest of the body. So, staying hydrated makes these healthy ingredients work harder for you!

3. More water improves your brain’s performance

Hydrated brains can reach their peak performance; with the right amount of daily water intake, your brain regains the ability to think clearly, regulate your emotions, and stabilize your mental health.

4. Increased water intake helps your body detoxify

We all take in toxins every day, whether they be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed. In order to keep us functioning properly, our bodies detoxify through sweating, urinating, eliminating, and breathing. Maintaining proper hydration keeps these systems running efficiently and helps us dispel these toxins quickly and easily.

Who knew plain old water would be the elixir to so much of our mental and physical sluggishness? Much like eating healthy, there are so many reasons why increasing your water intake can improve your overall health. If you’re wondering how much water you should be drinking in a day, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggests men to drink 13 cups (about 2.5 litres) and women to drink 9 cups (about 2 litres) each day.

If you are in recovery from an addiction or illness and focused on self-care and improving overall health right now, then being mindful of water intake and hydration will have benefits for you.

So, aim to increase your intake slowly and start to feel the benefits of proper hydration!