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 Modern life gets hectic, busy, and sometimes stressful – and you need plenty of energy to tackle everything that comes your way. If you feel like you’re dragging, it is tempting to turn to caffeine for a quick pick me up or try vitamins and supplements. But first, it’s important to look at the basics—hydration!  

Water is essential for carrying nutrients through your body, yet throughout the day, it gets lost through urine, sweat, and even breathing. If you don’t replenish that water, your body will start to feel tired and sluggish.  

Here are some ways that staying hydrated will help your body function at its peak.  

Bolster physical performance 

Dehydration will slow you down – especially during hot days or while you’re exercising. Drinking enough water will ensure your muscles and joints are balanced, which can ultimately improve your physical endurance, reduce the risk of muscle cramps, and even help you perform better as an athlete.   

Improve brain function 

Even mild dehydration can impact your ability to focus and even negatively affect your overall mental stamina. It can also impair memory, increase anxiety, and adversely impact your mood, too. Staying hydrated allows you to concentrate well and regulate your mental state and emotions for the long-term. 

Help spur weight loss 

In addition to regular exercise and healthy eating, staying hydrated can also help with losing weight -- it can boost your metabolic rate, which increases the number of calories you burn daily.  

Reduce the chance of developing headaches 

Headaches can be debilitating, and dehydration is known to trigger headaches and even more intense migraines in some people. Help avoid headaches by increasing your water intake! 

Not sure if you’re dehydrated? Signs of dehydration include dizziness or headache, fatigue, dark-colored urine, dry mouth or excessive thirst, and dry skin. Combat these symptoms by drinking eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Keep a water bottle on your desk at work, nearby when you’re working around the house, or in the car when you’re running around town catching up on errands. If you have water nearby and make it a priority to take it along with you, you’re more apt to drink it.