You have probably heard that you are supposed to drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day. But have you ever stopped to consider why this may be the case? Our bodies are made up of 60 percent water, and the liquid is critical to our everyday functions. Below, we’ve outlined the primary benefits of staying hydrated and some tips to help you drink more water.

It doesn't matter if you’re an athlete, someone doing heavy lifting at work, or someone concerned about your overall health, you should be aware that being hydrated can maximize your physical performance.

Studies have found even just losing as little as 2 percent of your body’s water content could cause your physical performance to suffer. Once your body begins losing water, you’ll notice:

• Fluctuations in body temperature
• Increased fatigue
• Struggle with continued physical performance
• Reduced motivation

If you’re someone who deals with headaches, have you ever considered that dehydration could be the cause? A link was found between headaches, migraines, and dehydration. Depending on the type of headache you have, drinking more water could relieve the pain. So, think about that before you reach for the aspirin next time your head is pounding.

Another benefit of drinking more water is that you promote better bowel movements and a healthier digestive system. Another link was found between dehydration and constipation in people of all ages.

Not only can drinking more water help relieve constipation, but researchers have also concluded that drinking carbonated water is more helpful than spring water in reducing the effects of constipation.

Kidney stones could be quite painful. You may have heard about some old-school remedies like drinking cranberry juice; however, the best way to fight kidney stones is to drink more water. The water helps reduce the salt in our diet, and a low-sodium diet is just what you need to avoid the pain of kidney stones.

Water can even help reduce the size of the kidney stone, making it easier to pass. It’s also possible that an increase in water decreases the likelihood of kidney stones altogether.

People think that drinking tons of water can help prevent a hangover, but it actually just helps fight the symptoms of a hangover. When you drink water, you are staying hydrated, and this can help you avoid the signs of dehydration like fatigue, thirst, and headaches.

If you were drinking, make sure to down a glass of water before you go to bed and keep a glass of water within easy reach because you are going to wake up in the middle of the night desperate for another sip to soothe your dry mouth.

Make sure to wet your whistle. Drinking enough water helps with the bacteria that may be thriving in a dry mouth because of the lack of saliva. Water helps wash all the bad away and with it washes away your chances of bad breath.  

One of the biggest benefits of proper hydration is that it helps with weight loss. Drinking enough water can help you feel fuller for longer. It can also increase your metabolic rate, allowing you to burn more calories when resting. Need to avoid long-term weight gain? Water can help with this too. So, instead of reaching for the sugary sodas, grab a bottle of sparkling water instead.

If you are someone who struggles to drink enough water to stay hydrated, there are a few tips that you can do to help meet your goals.

• Never wait until you are thirsty to reach for the water
• When you start feeling hungry, drink some water
• Going out to eat? Have a glass of water at the restaurant before ordering
• Workout? Have some water before, during, and after exercise

The key is to always have water handy, so you can sip on it all day. Having it with you can also help lessen your chances of reaching for a soda or some other sugary drink that won't hydrate you at all.

Don't want to sip on boring, flat water all day? Try carbonated water and all the amazing flavours that will make you happy you ditched the soda. Just don't drink carbonated water during a workout - for that, you should probably stick with the still water.

You can find carbonated water in a variety of natural flavours. Carbonated water is a fun, flavourful way to drink more water. After switching to carbonated water, you’ll likely find it much easier to hit your intake goal for the day. Drinking water won’t seem nearly as much of a hassle.  The bubbles make everything so much more fun!