When life gives us lemons we have a couple of options: we can either make lemonade, or we can just toss them right back at the tree they came from. This can be considered the same thing as making a beneficial health decision. Little do we know, a healthy choice can be easier than we think.

Not drinking water can take a toll on your overall health. It’s common sense that drinking water is essential for the body to function properly, but are we drinking enough water everyday to sustain a healthy lifestyle?

Though there are many theories about how much water you should drink on a regular basis, a widely accepted study from the 1950’s claims that the average human should consume about 2 to 3 liters, or 8 glasses each day. This may seem like a lot of water for just one day, but dehydration is no laughing matter. You might not even realize that you’re dehydrated until you begin to feel seriously ill.

Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. Dr. Beth Ann Callihan Ricci from Erie, PA, reports that other symptoms of dehydration include tiredness, rapid breathing, and vomiting. Kids and teens frequency complain about feeling tired, drained, and not being able to focus but according to many studies, health authorities say that not consuming enough water can be one cause of this.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the human adult body is made up of 60% water, and muscles and kidneys are made of 79% water. Organs like the heart, lungs, liver, and brain all contain significant volumes of water as well. Water is one of the most important basic resources all organisms, from tiny cyanobacteria to giant blue whales, need in order to survive.

WebMD’s Kathleen M. Zelman (MPH, RD, LD) found that drinking a significant amount of water everyday comes with numberless benefits such as a dramatic decrease in stress levels, promoting weight loss, flushing out toxins, improving your skin complexion, and protecting you from diseases. Water can also boost your mood and energy levels, making you more happy and less tired. Water can even increase your athletic and mental performance, making it easier to move and stay focused.

If you’re not a fan of drinking water, you can add flavor packets to your water to make it more tasteful. But the FDA claims that if you buy something packaged to add to your water, you are adding chemicals to your body. Flavor packets do not have any health benefits, for they are just made to add a little bit of taste to your water.

We live in the 21st century where there is an app for everything, even apps that can help you keep track of how much water you drink in a day. One app called, “My Water Balance” is completely free and has a rating of 4½ stars. This app lets you know when you should be drinking water and how much you drank in the day.

Users of this app left reviews that it is extremely helpful and encouraging for them to drink the correct amount they need in a day.

Though water is extremely important for our bodies to function, certain continents like Africa aren’t able to access it easily. People have to walk miles upon miles to access water that isn’t even sanitary. There are advocacy groups everywhere that are working everyday to solve this issue.

Water advocacy organizations like “Charity Water” brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. For some of these advocacy groups, it is their main priority to bring water to countries that are struggling to get the clean drinkable water they need.

Water is accessible all around our school. There are water fountains around every corner including three down the main hallway. There are also two filtered water stations to refill your water bottle when needed, and there are water bottles available in the cafeteria vending machines.

You may think water to be tasteless, and nothing compared to good old Hawaiian Punch, but it is a major part of our health and essential for all organisms to sustain life. Now, knowing the major benefits that come from just drinking water, will you be reaching for a glass?