Photo by Darwin Bell | Flickr

Water can be a very powerful weapon in achieving optimal health and wellness.  The problem is that most of us actually underestimate its many benefits and just do not make a conscious effort to drink enough of it.  Check out these 8 areas that you can expect to see improvements in, IF you increase your water intake to at least 6-8 glasses each day:

1. Sweet Cravings. Imbalances in your blood sugar levels can cause intense cravings for sweets.  Drinking more water can help to stabilize blood sugar levels and control that “sweet tooth”. 
2. Appetite. Water can help suppress your appetite.  Fill up on water in between meals to prevent over-snacking. Drink a tall glass of water before a particular meal to prevent over-eating.
3. Headaches. Dehydration can lead to severe and frequent headaches. Drinking more water will keep your body well-hydrated and eliminate any side effects of dehydration.
4. Hypertension. Too much sodium can lead to hypertension and other cardiovascular problems. Flushing the body with water can decrease sodium levels in the blood and prevent these types of health problems.
5. Constipation. When the body perceives that it is not receiving enough water, its survival mechanism kicks in and it begins to hold onto water from within.  This includes a reabsorption of water from stools, which causes constipation and weakens the walls of the colon.  Drinking water will help with digestive function and even provide relief for constipation. 
6. Skin. Healthy skin starts from the inside. Drinking more water can prevent many skin problems, such as acne, linked to irregular hormone levels and toxins in the body.
7. Body Odor. Unhealthy poisons get backed up within our body and cause embarrassing odors. In addition to other methods of preventing body odor, drinking plenty of water can help with this issue.
8. Fat Loss.  Water is a great weapon for fat loss.  Insufficient water intake drives your body to retain as much water as possible, which leads to you gaining “water weight”.  When you begin to drink more water, your body will let go of this reserved “water weight” and you will start to see the scale go down.  Once the water weight is eliminated, you can expect to see the extra fatty deposits, which increase when the body does not receive enough water, begin to diminish.  Water also acts as sort of an elixir, making all of the functions of the body work more efficiently, especially the metabolism.  Additionally, when you drink cold water your body works to heat it to its core temperature.  The result is an added boost in your metabolism.