Here is why you should drink more water

It is now a common sight to see Nigerians carry bottled water everywhere they go these days. In fact, it has become the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks).

And for those who are still not sure of why they should drink more water. Here are some reasons why.

Nutrient to the body. In fact, drinking water (either plain or in the form of other fluids or foods) is essential to your health. Think of water as a nutrient your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and foods. All of these are essential daily to replace the large amounts of water lost each day.

Water Can Help Control Calories. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help. Also, food with high water content tends to look larger, its higher volume requires more chewing, and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full. Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, oatmeal, and beans.

Water Helps Energize Muscles. When muscle cells don't have adequate fluids, they don't work as well and performance can suffer. So Drinking enough fluids is important when exercising, fluid intake is also important before and during any physical activity. It is recommended that people drink about 17 ounces of fluid about two hours before exercise. During exercise, they recommend that people start drinking fluids early, and drink them at regular intervals to replace fluids lost by sweating

Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. However, dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration

Water Helps Your Kidneys. Your kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate.

When you're getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. When your body is not getting enough fluids, urine concentration, color, and odor increases because the kidneys trap extra fluid for bodily functions. If you chronically drink too little, you may be at higher risk for kidney stones, especially in warm climates like Nigeria.

If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:

Have a beverage with every snack and meal.

Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.

Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.

Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.

Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you're watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.