TIPS ON DRINKING WATER TO FEEL BETTER - how to stay hydrated to optimize feeling good

Water is so important to daily moment-by-moment health and the feeling of well being.

However, many people are typically boarder-line or mildly dehydrated at times. Then they wonder why they are having so many problems.

Now's a good time to learn about all the bad things that can happen when dehydrated.

Dehydration happens when your body expels more water than it gets in and absorbs.

Below are just some ideas and good reasons for staying properly hydrated (not recommendations).
Always consult your professional healthcare providers before making any lifestyle changes.

Possible benefits of good hydration:
prevent food cravings due to dehydration signal being misinterpreted as feeling hungry
prevent overeating
prevent overheating due to being dehydrated and unable to sweat
prevent bad breath due to being dehydrated
prevent dry skin due to being dehydrated
prevent looking unhealthy due to being dehydrated (like sunken eyes, shriveled skin, wrinkles)
prevent itchy skin due to being dehydrated
prevent brain fog, lightheadedness, or poor concentration due to being dehydrated
prevent muscle cramps due to being dehydrated
prevent dry eyes due to being dehydrated
prevent cavities by keeping mouth regularly hydrated so not acidic
prevent mood crankiness due to being dehydrated
prevent headaches due to being dehydrated
(note: drinking way too much water can cause headaches too)
prevent feeling tired or fatigue due to being dehydrated
prevent problems in older people (confusion, low blood pressure, dizziness)
remove waste and toxins in the body
regulate body temperature
help nutrient absorption and digestion
keep kidneys and bladder healthy
help lubricate and cushion joints
help short-term memory
help visual motor skills
prevent constipation
help the body sweat to stay cool

Water Drinking Tips (assuming one has normal health):

1) Drinking sips of water throughout the day can help one keep hydrated gently.
If one waits until they are thirsty, they might already be dehydrated by then.
The body can better absorb water if not overloaded with it all at one time.
Otherwise it might just pee out the water overload rather than absorb what it fully needs.

2) Drinking sips of water more often can help if:
hot due to weather or being out in the sun
exercising or very active and/or sweating
breathing dry low-humidity air
breathing through mouth habitually
eating dry food so not getting much water from foods
drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages
eating salty, spicy, or sugary foods
eating an imbalanced diet
live at high altitude
been eliminating a lot of water recently (either way)

3) Urine color can help one know if they are hydrated or dehydrated.
Clear urine can mean over-hydrated.
Dark urine can mean dehydrated (unless one ate food that affects urine color).
Light yellow urine can mean properly hydrated (unless one ate food that affects urine color).

Here is a urine color chart to see if hydrated or dehydrated.
https://www.healthline.com/health/urine-color-chart

General tips:
Keep a tiny water bottle handy. I re-use a tiny glass seltzer water bottle that I keep in a foam padded protection sleeve.
Keep a pitcher of tap water uncovered overnight and the chlorine will evaporate so the water will taste and smell much better (often as good as bottled water).
Refill the tiny water bottle from the pitcher of tap water that has been uncovered overnight per above.
That way your water is essentially free and just as good as bottled water.
Avoid drinking lots of water just before, during, or just after eating because it might impede proper food digestion.
Drink warm water just after waking up to help the body rehydrate after losing water overnight from various body processes.
Drink a small amount of water just before going to bed to replace water that will be lost during sleep.
Drink water before going out in hot dry weather.
Avoid other beverages that don't hydrate but rather lead to dehydration because of other things they contain.

References:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-water-should-you-drink-per-day#how-much-you-need

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-much-water-should-I-drink#benefits

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-water

https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/unusual-signs-of-dehydration/

https://www.eatthis.com/drink-water/

https://www.eatthis.com/ways-youre-drinking-water-wrong/
(note: I disagree about drinking lemon water unless one drinks it with a straw because it is acidic so could affect teeth)

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/you-illuminated/201010/why-your-brain-needs-water

The above are just some general ideas and good reasons for staying properly hydrated (not recommendations). Everyone is different, so what's right for you may differ. Always consult your professional healthcare providers before making any lifestyle changes.

Please forgive any typos above.