Why Drink Water? How Water and Health Are Connected

By Rachael Moeller Gorman, "Liquid Assets," July/August 2011

7 health reasons to hydrate: Find out how water impacts your health and your body, from water and skin to water and heart.

More Information on Hydration
How to Hydrate: A Special Report that Answers the Question Why Should I Drink Water
BPA-Free Glass Water Bottles
Bottled Water vs. Tap

Limbs

When you’re well hydrated, the water inside and outside the cells of contracting muscles provides adequate nutrients and removes waste efficiently so you perform better. Water is also important for lubricating joints. Contrary to popular belief, muscle cramps do not appear to be related to dehydration, but, instead, to muscle fatigue, according to Sam Cheuvront, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist for the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.

Next: How Being Hydrated Affects Your Skin »