Does Drinking More Water Make a Difference?

In an effort to welcome the summer season I decided to focus on drinking more water this week. Now, we all know water is important, but I have never really liked drinking water. As a result I tend to be borderline dehydrated a lot of the time. This results in occasional bouts of shakiness following intense exercise and some grogginess during the day. Could I change this by simply drinking a little more water?

What does water do for us? Our body weight is 75 % water. Water controls our body temperature, lubricates our joints and muscles, protects our spinal chord and organs, and eliminates waste. We continually lose water throughout the day so we need to be replacing that water regularly.

I started out my day by filling a 16 ounce cup with water, ice, and a pinch of green tea for flavor. I set the cup next to my work area. Every hour I drank a little water. I refilled the cup as needed throughout the day. Eventually drinking three 16 ounce cups by the end of the day. I like cold drinks so having ice in the cup kept it cold for me through the day. I repeated this process every day this week. What did I notice?

By the end of the week I was thinking more clearly – not having as many unfocused moments during the day. I was also not feeling snack cravings in the mid-afternoon. I also did not feel slightly shaky after my daily workouts. As the summer temperatures rise my hands and feet sometimes swell and I am noticing less swelling too. Now, this was not a technically scientific study and the results are simply a comparison of how I felt before and after, however, in my opinion I feel much better having spent a week focusing on drinking water. I plan to continue focusing on water this summer and look forward to further benefits.

How does drinking plenty of water make you feel? Would love to hear from you in the comments below.