How Drinking Water Can Make You Slimmer, Happier, and More Attractive

I was never a water drinker, but I will be now that I’ve done my research

If I could look inside my body, I know I’d see raisins. A bunch of shriveled, wrinkly, vital organs begging me to take them to the doctor.

Why?

Because I’m a walking desert.

For example, I drink two glasses of water on a good day, and I know my body is paying the price. However, I did some research, and it turns out my lack of water consumption has far uglier consequences than I thought.

For example, the human body is more than seventy percent water, and when we don’t replenish the water we lose during the day, everything in our bodies starts going downhill.

Here’s what I mean.

Dehydration slows your metabolism.

Physicians Weight Loss Centers reports that “when your body does not have adequate amounts of water, your calorie-burning machines (muscles) slow down dramatically.” In addition, they state that living in a constant state of dehydration inhibits “your body’s ability to utilize fat as fuel.”

On the other hand, drinking water can increase the metabolic process. For example, Select Health cites studies that drinking water ups your metabolism by twenty-five percent for almost an hour. As a result, drinking water throughout the day can help supercharge your metabolism.

And if you want to burn more calories, science says to make the water cold. Even though chilled water only burns about eight calories more than water that’s room temperature, every little bit helps, right?

Dehydration decreases your brainpower.

Johns Hopkins University relays research found in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition which states:

“Even slight levels of dehydration (as little as 2% water loss) impair your performance in tasks that require attention, cognitive functions, physical movement, and immediate memory skills.”

In other words, that “brain fog” you assumed was from waking up too early or staying up too late might not be the culprit after all.

As a matter of fact, dehydration can even cause a decrease in the size of brain cells.

And I don’t know about you, but as crazy as my life is, I need my brain cells big, fat, and juicy.

Dehydration affects mental health and well-being.

Raise your hand if you’re usually calm, happy, and stress-free.

(Teacher sees only one happy human with their hand in the air.)

Unfortunately, the truth is that most of us are running on fumes, feeling angry, tired, depressed, anxious, and stressed.

And when you withhold water from your body, you’re increasing the likelihood these emotions will hang around.

Science proves it.

For example, The Conversation outlines one reason why dehydration throws our moods and mental well-being out of whack:

“Our cells recognize a state of dehydration as a threat to survival, leading to a state of anxiety. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger between brain cells) that stabilizes our mood and regulates emotions. During dehydration, we struggle to get the chemicals required to produce serotonin into our brain.”

In addition, while dehydration causes serotonin to drop, it also causes cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol is a stress hormone associated with many mental health problems, and when cortisol levels increase, it makes mood regulation more difficult.

For example, Web MD quotes sports trainer and registered dietician Amanda Carlson on the connection between cortisol and dehydration. She states:

“Studies have shown that being just half a liter dehydrated can increase your cortisol levels.”

Dehydration negatively impacts your looks.

If you want to look your best, you have to drink up.

Radiance, a health beauty publication sponsored by Web MD, lists the following effects of dehydration on your skin:

• dullness
• darkness and/or bags under the eyes
• fine lines

The Minnesota School of Cosmetology includes more ways drinking too little water impacts the skin. They note:

“Dehydration prevents your body from eliminating toxins through your skin, which in turn makes your skin more susceptible to skin problems and disorders, such as dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, discoloration, and even premature wrinkling.”

And last but not least, not getting adequate amounts of H2O contributes to one of the skin’s biggest culprits: acne.

Cosmopolitan explains why, remarking that “dehydration makes your skin dry and rough, causing your skin to overproduce oils and increasing the layer of dead skin cells that can build up and clog your pores.”

The bottom line:

Everyone wants to be smarter, happier, healthier, and more beautiful. And if one tiny lifestyle change can help you achieve these benefits, give me one good reason not to fill that dusty water bottle of yours.

There’s not one, is there?

So don’t let me take up more of your time. You know what you need to do, so grab your cup and get started.

A whole team of scientists, dermatologists, nutritionists, and doctors know you’ll be glad you did.

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