10 Reasons Why Drinking More Water Will Improve Your Quality Of Life!

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Drinking enough water every day is crucial, and as time goes by, it becomes even more important. Adults over the age of 60, for example, are at increased risk of dehydration due to natural drops in thirst levels and changes in body composition. While everyone's hydration requirements differ depending on their health factors, the WHO recommends consuming about 50-68 ounces (6 to 9 cups) of water daily.

But, do you know what happens to your body when you experience a lack of water? Let’s go over the top 10 benefits of staying hydrated at all times.

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When we forget to drink the recommended amount of water per day, we are likely to suffer from dehydration. This occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in. It is often accompanied by variations in the balance of electrolytes in the body, especially alterations in the concentrations of sodium and potassium.

Your blood is largely composed of H2O. When you don't drink enough water, it becomes concentrated, which can cause an imbalance of these vital minerals,which are key to the proper functioning of your heart. The regulation of blood pressure and heart rate is of great importance, especially because the circulatory system constantly supplies oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the organs in the body.

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Whether you are a competitive athlete or you work at an office, achieving the right fluid balance has a decisive influence on your well-being and daily performance. Dehydration can slow circulation and also affect the oxygen flow to the brain. Water is used by the body to eliminate toxins and waste products it does not need. Lack of fluids can make your heart work harder to pump oxygen throughout your body. All that expended energy can make you feel tired, sluggish, and less focused.

In addition, when approaching a state of dehydration, the body will decrease muscle performance, which causes that feeling of tiredness. Drinking water is essential for our body to function properly all day and throughout all our activities.

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Our body produces heat and our metabolism, when working correctly, is responsible for maintaining a stable temperature. When you're dehydrated, research shows your body stores more heat. This in turn reduces your ability to tolerate high temperatures. When the temperature is too high and environmental conditions don’t help to reduce body heat, it is the evaporation of sweat that regulates the temperature. Only the sweat that evaporates has a cooling effect on our bodies. Drinking plenty of water will help you produce sweat when you're overheated, which will cool your body when needed.

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Your body needs water to digest food properly. If you don't drink enough water throughout the day, you may experience irregular bowel movements, gas, bloating, heartburn, and other discomforts that can affect your quality of life. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal helps the body break down and process food so that you can absorb nutrients.

Remember that increasing your fluid intake can help get things moving in the right direction. Water also softens the stool, which helps prevent constipation. Choose water instead of drinks with a lot of sugar whenever possible. Natural mineral water is especially beneficial; look for products enriched with sodium and magnesium.

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Kidney stones are a common disease, affecting nearly one in 11 people, and if you've ever experienced it, you know how painful they can be. In essence, these stones are clusters of mineral crystals that form in the urinary tract. Proper water intake is an effective and inexpensive measure to increase urine volume, which is believed to help prevent stone formation.

The peak of people with kidney stones occurs more often during the summer season when a lot of water is lost with perspiration. Drinking adequate amounts of water every day can help dilute the concentration of these minerals and reduce the likelihood of stones. Water also helps flush harmful bacteria from the bladder, while preventing urinary tract infections.

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Maintaining healthy skin not only has cosmetic benefits but is also key to better health overall. Water is essential for our skin to look smooth and glowing. The hydrolipidic film is responsible for the velvety appearance of our skin. It covers the outer part of the epidermis, is composed of sweat and oil, and is important for maintaining skin hydration and defending it against external agents. When we are dehydrated this mantle is affected and cannot protect us properly. When the skin is dehydrated it also cracks and looks dull and tight, whereas a hydrated skin is much more elastic and luminous.

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Almost all diets have one thing in common: they agree on the importance of drinking water to lose weight. As we’ve seen, water transports nutrients and oxygen to different parts of the body, but also fills us with energy to perform different activities throughout the day. It can also help boost our metabolism.

Experts say that drinking a glass of water before a meal can help with weight control. The stomach has nerves that detect stretching and send signals to the brain that it is time to stop eating. Because it provides a feeling of satiety, water can help you feel full between meals.

Also, sometimes we head to the kitchen for a snack when we're actually thirsty instead of hungry. If this is the case, drinking water can prevent us from consuming unnecessary calories and help us manage our weight better.

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Even mild dehydration —fluid loss of as little as 2%— can affect your mood, concentration, and memory. This is especially important for older adults who are at greater risk of dehydration and impaired cognitive function. In fact, studies show that dehydration causes a 15% drop in the ability to concentrate and a 10% decrease in short-term memory.

Therefore, in situations where intense mental effort is required, it is recommended to drink water frequently. Don’t wait until you are thirsty, as being thirsty is a symptom that you are already starting to become dehydrated. It is a good idea to take a bottle of mineral water with you when you go out so that you can hydrate at any time and place.

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Even mild fluid loss can cause the brain to shrink and separate from the skull, leading to headaches and migraines in some people. One of the risks of lack of water is that it produces vasodilation, that is, the blood vessels dilate and make headaches worse. The brain is highly sensitive to electrolyte alterations and to the lack of water, therefore, when the person is dehydrated, arteries and nerves will be too.

Staying consistently well-hydrated can help control this discomfort. If a person suffers regularly from this kind of pain, the recommendation is to stay well hydrated to prevent triggering a vascular or tension headache. In addition, drinking water might reduce the intake of medications.

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The cartilage in our joints contains about 80% water. Therefore, drinking water is the easiest way to maintain joints and tendons in perfect condition. Staying hydrated helps keep your joints well lubricated, reducing friction and preventing less aches and pains. On the contrary, long-term dehydration can reduce the shock absorption capacity of joints, leading to different bone-related pathologies.

Proper hydration will facilitate greater mobility and a better predisposition to exercise, giving more life and youth to your tissues.

WILD HOLIDAYS

10 Crazy Festivals From Around The World You Have To See To Believe

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When it comes to something universally loved worldwide, coming together to celebrate things is undoubtedly one of them. Anniversaries, popular traditions, and historical and religious events are an important part of human culture. Some places, however, take festivities to new heights, pushing the boundaries of social norms with crazy festivals and dangerous traditions.

From ancient traditions to modern-day spectacles, these 10 festivals offer a glimpse into the wonderfully weird tapestry of human culture. Get ready to expand your horizons and maybe even add a few new destinations to your bucket list!

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Location: Buñol, Spain

For one day in August, the small town of Buñol in Spain becomes ground zero for the world's largest tomato fight. Thousands of participants hurl overripe tomatoes at each other in a messy, yet strangely cathartic, display of pure fun. The tradition originated in the 40s after a spontaneous tomato fight erupted during an unrelated festivity, and after that, it became so popular that everyone in town started to join in.

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Location: Boryeong, South Korea

Every summer, the sleepy coastal town of Boryeong in South Korea transforms into a mud-soaked playground during the Boryeong Mud Festival. What started as a promotional event for the town's mineral-rich mud skincare products has evolved into a massive celebration featuring mud pools, mudslides, and even mud skiing competitions.

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Location: Thailand

During Songkran—known as the Thai New Year—all Thailand engages in a country-wide water fight. Locals and tourists take to the streets armed with hoses and buckets, ready to douse each other with water in a symbolic cleansing ritual. Originating as a celebration of harvest and springtime, people traditionally throw water on images of Buddha or statues in Buddhist temples.

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Location: Castrillo de Murcia, Spain

In the village of Castrillo de Murcia in Spain, an unusual tradition takes place during the week-long festivities of Corpus Christi, a strange ritual known as El Colacho in Spanish, or "Baby Jumping". As part of the ritual, men dressed as devils jump over rows of babies born in the past year that lie on mattresses in the street. The tradition is believed to cleanse them of sin and protect them from evil spirits.

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Location: Ivrea, Italy

In a similar fashion to the Spanish Tomatina, the Carnival of Ivrea includes a traditional orange battle, where organized teams fight each other by throwing oranges. However, the festivity goes back to medieval times, as it commemorates the city’s successful rebellion against a local tyrant. The Carnival lasts three whole days, during which the orange battle rages on while various other minor traditions are held.

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Location: Nevada, U.S.A.

Burning Man isn't just a festival—it's a temporary city built in the heart of the Nevada desert for one week each summer. This experimental community celebrates radical self-expression, art, and communal living, culminating in the ritual burning of a massive wooden effigy known as "The Man." Festival goers are encouraged to clean after themselves and embrace principles of inclusion and responsibility.

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Location: Pamplona, Spain

Each year in July, the Spanish city of Pamplona hosts the infamous Running of the Bulls during the Saint Fermin festival. Brave—or foolhardy—participants run alongside a herd of charging bulls through the narrow streets of the city in a thrilling display of adrenaline-fueled madness. Despite its inherent dangers (as one would expect, injuries are common), it's a tradition that dates back centuries and continues to attract thrill-seekers from around the world.

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Location: Gloucestershire, England

In the tiny English village of Brockworth, Gloucestershire, an age-old tradition known as the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake takes place each spring. Participants launch themselves down a steep hill in pursuit of a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese, risking life and limb for the chance to be named the winner. Recently, the quirky event gained worldwide recognition, with participants coming from all over the world for a chance to catch the elusive cheese.

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Location: Looe Key Reef, United States

Ever dreamed of joining an underwater orchestra playing catchy old-time tunes? If that’s the case, then you definitely should go check out the Underwater Music Festival that takes place annually in the Florida Keys. This underwater spectacle features musicians playing specially designed instruments while submerged in the crystal-clear waters of Looe Key Reef, creating a one-of-a-kind sensory experience that blurs the line between art and nature.

Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Cortney Paxton

Location: Sonkajärvi, Finland

First introduced at Sonkajärvi, Finland, the Wife-Carrying Contest is exactly what you would expect from its name: male contestants race through an obstacle course while carrying their female partners on their backs. While the precise origin of this weird practice is not clear, today it’s considered sort of a joke sport—though competitors tend to take it very seriously—with the winners taking home the wife’s weight in beer.