Thrive Global: Why Water is Important for our Health

Importance of water is maybe not realised by most of us. What media are mainly emphasising is the importance of drinking 2 litres of water every day. Yet it seems only a few are explaining the ‘why’.

In addition water is much more than that. It is one of the most essential element of Earth for all living things. Moreover it is one of the main reason why our planet is habitable. 

Water relationships with our planet and ultimately us humans are complex. But these processes are actually showing the importance of water. 

Water for Good Health

For us all, water means good health. But this is only logical as 60% of our body is water. If there is lack of water in our body, we are not functioning. 

In addition every single organ or tissue requires water to function. Without water our body loses many of its abilities. In extreme cases dehydration can even lead to death.

One important benefit for hydration is to optimise brain performance. On the contrary, lacking water can rank from headaches to anxiety and fatigue.

On the other part, drinking more water can help you losing weight. Because of increase in your metabolism, and also feeling ‘full’, doctors are consulting us to drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy.   

Water for Good Mental Health

As mentioned above, hydration is important in brain performance. Therefore any lack in water has consequences in our mental health. So dehydration affect us how we feel and think.

Yet hydration level is sensitive for our brain. So even just one percent below optimal, it can affect our mood, making it difficult to concentrate and having a headache.

But water can also have an indirect effect to our mental health. In fact scientists confirm that living near water can improve mental health. 

According to W.J. Nichols, a scientist and the author of Blue Mind, ‘Water in all its forms can be the quickest shortcut to mindfulness and a shift into what I call ‘blue mind’ that I know of. Psychologists refer to water’s changing uniformity as putting us in a state of ‘soft fascination,’ which can be highly restorative’.    

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