Here, we look at the benefits of drinking water. You may be surprised to learn about the importance of water. You know you can’t live without water, but you may not know that increasing your intake can improve the way that you feel and even the way that you look.

If you suffer from dry skin, you are probably using moisturizer. But, are you getting enough healthy fluids. The cosmetic benefits of drinking water include softer, firmer skin and healthier looking hair.

You can also benefit from a showerhead filter that removes chlorine. The chemical is very drying to your scalp, hair and skin. Beauty experts used to say that it was hot water that dried out the skin and the hair, but I have actually tried putting the shower on cold or lukewarm and there was no improvement, until I got a chlorine filter.

Now my hair is soft and shiny. But, those are cosmetic benefits and we are here to talk about the importance of drinking water for your health.

The complete health benefits of drinking water are discussed in a book called “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water”. It is actually a collection of studies conducted by medical experts. They explain how many of the pain sensations we experience are due to moderate or acute dehydration.

For example, headaches are related to water intake. The importance of water to the brain has to do with its fluid content. 75% of the brain’s weight is fluid. About 50% is found in the form of essential fatty acids.

When either one is absent, the brains initial response is to produce histamines, which cause pain. It’s a natural defense mechanism, meant to conserve fluids and prevent death.

We have learned that metabolism is slowed down by popular diets, because the body believes you have a shortage of food. The production of histamine is meant to “slow you down”, so that you don’t use up all your liquids.

So, the benefits of drinking water may include fewer headaches. Pain relievers may shut down the signal and relieve the pain, but the fatigue will still be present. That’s why several medical experts have written about the importance of drinking water to those who suffer from chronic fatigue.

The benefits of drinking water apply to back pain also. The discs in the back are like shock absorbers. They have an outer shell of flexible joint tissue that is filled with water. A properly hydrated disk absorbs the normal shock of physical activity and supports the weight of the body.

They are self-hydrating as long as long as a person recognizes the importance of drinking water. When fully hydrated, the outer shell of the disc supports 25% of the weight load and the fluid supports 75%. When they become dehydrated, the shell has to support a larger portion of the load, causing pain.

There are many other health benefits of drinking water, including appetite control. So, remember to drink for your health.