Are you feeling fatigued and a little dizzy? Are your lips dry and your throat parched? Maybe you’re suffering from dehydration. Given the almost unbearable summer weather, it’s no surprise that you’re feeling the strain more these days. Then again, it’s just as well that you be reminded to drink more water. After all, there are many benefits of proper hydration. Here is a list of some of them below:

1. Hydration leads to better kidney function. “Your kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate," says Kaiser Permanente nephrologist and Stanford University professor Steven Guest, MD in an article on WebMD. Without proper hydration, however, you not only risk your kidneys malfunctioning but also risk developing kidney stones.

2. Drinking just enough water improves your skin. Is your skin looking and feeling a bit dry? Instead of simply relying on moisturizer, hydrate yourself by drinking the recommended number of glasses each day.

3. Proper hydration gives you extra energy. Not drinking enough water can deplete your energy especially when you need it the most. In fact, according to LiveStrong.com, “Because your body depends on water for so many vital functions, even mild dehydration taxes your system and leads to feeling tired and off balance.”

(Photo by Chapendra via Flickr Creative Commons)