During this hot summer, it is more important than ever to remember to stay hydrated. We are often so busy that we forget do to one of the simplest tasks there is…drink water. Keeping yourself hydrated is one of the best and easiest way to feel healthier, lose weight, and maintain energy levels throughout the day.

Maintaining proper hydration can have many benefits

Here are 5 of the most beneficial aspects to drinking more water:

1. Weight Loss

We’ve heard the old saying “You’re not hungry you’re thirsty,” this is a true statement. Staying hydrated will help limit your body from having unwanted cravings and overeating. At a cellular level, water helps maintain energy storage levels; when these levels get depleted your body needs to make up for the deficiency, which is when we get cravings for things like sugar, carbs, etc.

2. Have More Energy

Staying properly hydrated can help maintain your energy levels. As mentioned above, water works with the cells to maintain energy storage levels to keep your energy more consistent throughout the day. Being sufficiently hydrated also leads to better sleep and restoration of the many bodily systems.

3. Clear Up Skin

Water helps flush out toxins, which typically visually manifest themselves in our skin. The most annoying and noticeable are dry, itchy, cracking skin; but even acne, blotchiness, and other skin issues can be caused by dehydration.

4. Alleviate Joint and Muscle Aches

Think of water like oil in a car, if you don’t have enough of it getting through the system, your gears will start to get stiff; the same goes for our joints and muscles. Much of our cartilage is surrounded by a padding made up mostly of water; when the padding gets dried out, we start to feel more aches and pains.

5. Helps With Digestion

Maintaining proper hydration helps your body get rid of toxins and metabolic waste which leads to less issues with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), acid reflux, bloating, gas, and constipation. Additionally, hydration helps flush out bacteria from the kidneys, bladder, and liver and can lead to less infections.

Of course drinking more water is easier said than done so

Here are 5 tips and tricks to help you drink more water:

1. Get Creative:

Adding sliced fresh fruits (such as oranges, grapefruit, watermelon), vegetables (such as cucumbers) or other herbs (such as mint) are a great way to make water less boring!

2. Use Technology

Use the power of the smartphone to your advantage. It can be as simple as putting reminders on your phone calendar so you get an alert. There are even apps that can remind you with alerts such as Waterlogged or Hydro Coach. If you are really into tech, there is a water bottle that tracks how much water you drink wirelessly to your phone and is called Hidrate Spark.

3. Keep a Glass Close

Whether you are at a desk most of the day or on the go, you are more likely to drink more water if you have some in accessible and within reach. Keep a glass or bottle at your desk, for example, where you can see it and you will find yourself reaching for it without even thinking!

4. Order Water

Why not let someone else do the hard work for you, order water with your meal and let the waiter(ess) keep filling your glass up as you drink it. As an added benefit, you’ll save about $3-$5 per meal by not ordering a beverage!

5. Eat Your Water

While it’s not exactly the same as drinking it, eating certain hydrating foods such as cucumbers, melons, and celery can be an easy way to “cheat”. Even soups with light broth are a great alternative.