We have all heard about the many health benefits of water. But when you see them in black and white and you actually see the many ailments and diseases you could avoid if you increased your daily water intake, you might be making an extra trip to your nearest water cooler.

Health Benefits of Water

• Healthier Skin. Ensuring that you are properly hydrated will prove to be a far better solution to preventing or decreasing wrinkles than the many expensive and in most cases barely effective products being marketing to the public.

• Healthier Mind & Body. Water is essential for nutrient absorption and many chemical reactions in the body for overall health, including proper brain function and improvements in memory.
  

• Increases Energy. Although water does not provide energy in the same way carbohydrates and fat do, it plays a very important role in energy transformation. Since water is the medium in which all energy reactions take place. If you become dehydrated you will become lethargic, can experience cramping and endurance and strength performance will suffer. In fact, athletes that do become dehydrated often find reduced performance in the days following.

• Healthier Digestive System. Water also helps improve the digestive process and is imperative in maintaining a healthy urinary tract and digestive system. Water is also important to properly metabolize food and drinking sufficient amounts of water will help reduce constipation.Drinking sufficient amounts of water will help the body process and transport nutrients and excrete any waste products once they are metabolized.
  

• Reduces Fatigue. Although water does not provide energy in the same way carbohydrates and fat do, it plays a very important role in energy transformation.Since water is the medium in which all energy reactions take place. If you become dehydrated you will become lethargic, can experience cramping and endurance and strength performance will suffer. In fact, athletes that do become dehydrated often find reduced performance in the days following.  

• Helps In Weight Loss. Water can suppress the appetite naturally and increases the body's ability to metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. This is thought to occur because a reduction in water decreases the efficiency of the kidney's, which results in some of the kidney's functions being shunted to the liver. Since one of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body, it metabolizes less fat while performing functions normally performed by the kidney's. This results in less stored fat burned, and a reduction in weight loss.

• Healthier Teeth & Bones. Water also makes teeth and bone stronger. The additional fluoride added to our water supplies provides extra strengths and bone density to our teeth and bones. 

• Healthier Joints. Water is extremely important to the joints. Because the synovial fluid contains water, if you become dehydrated less synovial fluid is available to protect the joints. This is very dangerous to a bodybuilder since bodybuilders are constantly sweating (losing fluids) and putting great stresses on their joints through intense workouts. 

• Reduces Joint Pain. The spinal joints are dependent on different hydraulic properties of water which is stored in the disc core. Back pain is frequently alleviated with hydration. Water lubricates the joints. Cartilage tissues found at the ends of long bones & between the vertebrae of the spine hold a lot of water, which serves as a lubricant during the movement of the joint. Increasing water intake and properly hydrating yourself can help replenish the water in these tissues. When the cartilage is will hydrated, the two opposing surfaces glide freely, and  friction damage is reduced. Failure to do so will increase the rate of "abrasive" damage, resulting in joint deterioration & increased pain. 

• Helps In Weight Loss. Water can suppress the appetite naturally and increases the body's ability to metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.This is thought to occur because a reduction in water decreases the efficiency of the kidney's, which results in some of the kidney's functions being shunted to the liver. Since one of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body, it metabolizes less fat while performing functions normally performed by the kidney's. This results in less stored fat burned, and a reduction in weight loss. 

• Reduces Fluid Retention. Drinking increased amounts of water is the best natural treatment for fluid retention. As many bodybuilders already know when the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cell) which can result in swollen extremities (feet, legs and hands). Diuretics offer a temporary solution, but can cause more harm than good if abused. Why? Because they will cause the elimination of the water, along with essential nutrients. Also the body will again perceives this conditioning as a threat and replace the lost water at the first opportunity, causing bloating and fluid retention once again. Drinking plenty of water will eliminate this problem.  

• Helps Build Muscle. Water is needed to transport nutrients to your cells and transporting waste out of the body. Water helps form the structures of protein and glycogen. In order to move and flex your muscles, you need water. If your body is dehydrated, your muscles will be deprived of electrolytes and cramp. Since muscles are controlled by nerves, without the proper water and electrolyte balance muscle strength and control will also be impaired.
  

• Increases Muscle Tone. Muscles are made primarily of water. Dehydration can prevent muscles from properly contracting, reducing muscle tone. Increasing water intake will help prevent muscle cramping, improve the strength of muscle contractions and quicken muscle response. Preventing dehydration will also help prevent sagging skin, since water will fill out the muscles, resulting in clear, healthy and resilient skin. 

• Reduces Risk of Disease. Studies have shown that increasing daily water intake has shown to decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, reduce the risk of bladder cancer (by 50%) and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer. It is also believed that water may prevent many kidney stone and urinary tract infections.

• Other Known Benefits. Water also aids circulation, and helps regulate the body's cooling system.