We all know how marvellous water can be. This miraculous substances has an incredible effect on your physical and mental well-being. With the new year well underway, it’s the perfect time to improve your daily water intake and reap all the rewards that come with drinking more water.

People of all ages can enjoy the benefits of regular water intake – we recently revealed how you can get your child to drink more water, even in winter. But what advantages are there to making drinking more water your New Year’s resolution?

Body

Staying hydrated all year round is crucial to maintaining great health and well-being, yet according to research carried out by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), 89% of the British population don’t drink enough water. As well as making up 60% of an adult’s body, and 75% of an infant’s, water has integral roles to play in a variety of vital body functions. Water actively lubricates joints, forms the saliva and mucus we need to digest food, and helps to carry oxygen around the body, with blood itself consisting of more than 90% water. In addition to this, water is required for healthy digestion, the removal of body waste, and the maintenance of healthy blood pressure.

Water also helps to regulate your body’s temperature whilst supporting the function and structure of vital organs and tissues, including the brain and spinal cord. It’s not just inside your body where your water intake counts. Dehydration has many visible signs, but several associated skin problems can be solved with regular water intake.

Mind

How you think is influenced by the amount of water you drink. Whichever way you choose to boost intake, whether you opt for regular doses of filtered water, or get your water from other beverages, staying hydrated will help to boost energy levels and brain function. Even slight dehydration can lead to impaired mood and concentration, as Psychology Today explains:

“Years of research have found that when we’re parched, we have more difficulty keeping our attention focused. Dehydration can impair short-term memory function and the recall of long-term memory. The ability to perform mental arithmetic, like calculating whether or not you’ll be late for work if you hit snooze for another 15 minutes, is compromised when your fluids are low.”

In short, your brain needs water to function, with proper hydration the key to better mood, memory and brain performance.

Soul

Drinking more water isn’t just the key to a healthier body and better functioning mind, it also helps you feel your best too. When your body is functioning well you can’t help but feel happier and more content.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s easy to boost your water intake. Simply having a beverage with every meal or snack will help you increase the amount of water you drink. Eating more fruits and vegetables, food items that have a high water content, will help you stay hydrated too. Keeping a water bottle in the places you frequent the most, like your car or at your desk, provides another great reminder to drink more throughout the day.