You already know that drinking water makes you less thirsty, and you might have heard some rumblings about “hydration” throughout life. However, there is more to drinking water than just staying alive. Here are some details that will help you to know if you’re drinking enough water, why you should make sure you’re getting enough, and whether you should run it through a Crown Berkey water filter first.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
The answer to this isn’t as simple as the old maxim, “drink eight glasses every day,” makes it seem. Your body size, the humidity level of your environment (including inside buildings), how much physical exercise or labor you do, and other factors all play a part in coming up with the perfect amount.
That said, your body will give you clues when you aren’t getting enough. While thirst is the most obvious, it isn’t the only thing you should look for. Thirst only kicks in after you’re already too dry, and your goal should be to prevent dehydration from happening in the first place. Keep an eye out for symptoms like:
- Feelings of fatigue
- Dry eyes
- A “foggy head”
- Headaches
- Muscle cramps
- Dark urine
- Cravings for high-moisture foods, some of which have high calories
- Crinkly skin
- “Withered-looking” fingers
Why You Need to Drink Plenty of Water
Your Body Uses Water to Remove Waste
The elimination of both liquid and solid bodily wastes depends on water. Liquid waste becomes too concentrated if you don’t have enough, and solid waste is hard to eliminate when you’re too dry. These factors can cause you to have elevated levels of metabolic waste in your bloodstream, and this can cause feelings of fatigue or general malaise.
Water Helps with Weight Loss
Many diet plans will tell you to drink plenty of water, both during meals and at other times. They generally assume that water helps to fill you up, but this isn’t the only way it promotes weight loss. As mentioned above, low-grade thirst can result in cravings for calorie-rich, high-moisture foods – and this will sabotage weight loss efforts. Soda, while made mostly of water, is also bad for weight loss.
Water Helps Your Skin
Your skin relies on water to keep its proper appearance as well as its health. Fine lines or crepey skin can often be helped by drinking more water. The hydration fills out the skin and smooths the lines.
You Gain More Energy
One of the main reasons that you need water in order to stay alive is that it’s important for your metabolism. Sufficient water is also needed for the optimal functioning of your organs. If you don’t have enough, your body will not run at its full potential. Because of these factors, you can feel a notable perk in energy if you’re dehydrated and have a big glass of water.
Do You Need a Crown Berkey Water Filter?
If you’re like many people, your tap water comes from a municipal source. This means that it has chemicals added to keep it from becoming contaminated in the pipes. While the additives keep diseases out of the water, they also make it so your body has to work to get rid of this extra chemical load. Running your water through a Crown Berkey water filter will save your body from that work, and let you get the full benefit of every drop of water you drink.
