Just like the grass in a park and the plants in an herb garden require water from rain, a hose, sprinkler, or watering can to grow and thrive, “We depend on water to survive,” says Katherine Brooking, RD, co-founder of the nutrition news company Appetite for Health in San Francisco.
“Water helps to restore fluids lost through metabolism, breathing, sweating, and the removal of waste. It also helps to keep you from overheating, lubricates the joints and tissues, maintains healthy skin, and is necessary for proper digestion.”
Most people do not meet their daily water goals, according to Roxana Ehsani, RD, CSSD, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Miami and a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
According to some scientific estimates, roughly 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, which isn’t good for our health. A study published in the ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal found that even mild dehydration of around 2% can cause fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, lightheadedness, and other symptoms.
“Maintaining proper hydration can have a profound impact on how we feel,” says Lauren Manaker M.S., RD, LD, a registered dietitian and owner of Nutrition Now Counseling in Charleston, South Carolina. “For those focused on how their skin appears, being properly hydrated can have a noticeable positive impact on the appearance of your skin, too.”
The Benefits of Drinking Water Before Bed
As previously stated, 3 in 4 Americans may not be drinking enough water throughout the day or eating enough water-rich foods to fill the gaps.
“Making a habit of drinking water before bed can help people meet their fluid quota during the final minutes of their day.
For some people, drinking water before bed may help them sleep better by allowing them to produce sweat, keeping them cooler and more comfortable,” Manaker says, or by helping moderate body temperature, Brooking adds. Since temperature plays a big role in your ability to sleep soundly, this can certainly be a boon.