Water flows through every cell in our bodies, supporting blood flow, the removal of toxins, and the production and transmission of important enzymes and hormones. If your body has too little water, these essential functions will be compromised and that can lead to serious chronic health conditions. Drinking good, clean, pure water helps our bodies function at optimal levels and maintains our health.

Fortunately, we get a couple of early signals if the water levels in our bodies are too low. The first is thirsty. The second is the color of our urine. If you ignore the thirst signal, you may already be slightly dehydrated, so if you notice your urine is a dark yellow color later, you can be sure that you are dehydrated and should drink water soon. If you continue to ignore these simple signals, the next batch of signals you receive will seem a bit more serious, including fatigue, mood swings, hunger, aches and pains, and dry skin.

If you don’t recognize any of those symptoms by not bringing water to the rescue, unfortunately, the next batch of signs you receive are likely to be the result of damage caused by the disruption of essential bodily functions. Symptoms of chronic dehydration include heartburn, constipation, anxiety, urinary tract infections, premature aging, and high cholesterol.

Simply drinking water regularly throughout the day keeps all essential functions running. You can avoid many ailments that can be treated with harsh pharmaceuticals that often produce their own list of unwanted side effects. During hot summer months or periods of exercise, increase your water intake as your body excretes much more water through perspiration to stay cool, another benefit of staying hydrated.

Your blood is about ninety-two percent water. Maintaining water levels in the blood promotes efficient blood flow to the organs and helps prevent high blood pressure. This is also critical during times of sleep and times of stress when the body produces hormones to help keep the body strong and balanced. A well-hydrated body also regulates the production of histamine, which controls our immune system’s response to allergies and other elements. Excessive production of histamines can create the symptoms of allergies, such as nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and sneezing.

Your body needs water to flush out toxins. Two systems are responsible for removing most of the toxins from your body. The first is your skin. If you are dehydrated, your skin contains toxins that we would otherwise eliminate and you can develop skin irritations. The second is your digestive system. Water helps keep food moving through your digestive tract, allowing toxins and pathogenic microbes to be flushed out naturally. Constipation can contribute to other digestive disorders, such as bladder infections, ulcers, acid reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Sometimes we misread the signal for thirst and assume that we are hungry, even though we have consumed a meal a short time ago. In a dehydrated state, your cells cry out for sustenance and your brain tells you to get more food. Staying hydrated will keep your cells well supplied with water and can prevent you from inadvertently adding extra pounds.

High-caffeine beverages, such as coffee and soft drinks, are not good choices for hydrating the body. They are natural diuretics, which serve to accelerate the dehydration process. High-sugar beverages like sodas, juices, and new flavored water products deliver too much sugar to your system, which only creates other health and weight gain problems. Drink plain water frequently and throughout the day. Start the day with lukewarm water and add some juice squeezed from a lemon. Pay attention to early signs, like thirst or hunger, when you shouldn’t be, and drink some water right away to stay hydrated and keep your body running at its best.