By Erika Moreno/Delta Staff Writer 

Staying hydrated is crucial for health and well-being, but many people do not consume enough fluids each day. Around 60 percent of the human body is made up of water and  more than 90 percent of our blood is water. Blood delivers oxygen through the body.

According to medicalnewstoday.com drinking water can lead to various amounts of benefits. Water is crucial for the kidneys and other body functions. If you are dehydrated it can lead to your skin getting more wrinkly faster and also can become vulnerable to skin disorders. Water can also help with weight loss. 

Cartilage contains about 80 percent of water. This is found in the joints and in the disks located in the spine. If you become dehydrated you can reduce the shocking absorbing ability from your joints and it can lead to joint pain. Therefore if you notice that you are having joint pain make sure to drink water. This may be the reason why your joints are in pain so stay hydrated. 

Drinking water can form saliva and mucus. Although it may be gross, saliva helps digest food and keeps the mouth, nose, and eyes moist. The moistness prevents friction and damage. Drinking water also keeps the mouth clean because it flushes down all the extra food that is in your mouth that you sometimes can’t get when your trying to swallow it. Water can also reduce tooth decay since it doesn’t contain sugar.

Water cushions the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues. Dehydration can affect brain structure and function. If you dehydrate yourself for too long you can have problems with thinking and reasoning. 

It helps with regulating body temperature as well. If your body has a small portion of water in it, heat storage may increases and it can lead to not tolerating heat strain. However, having a lot of water in your body can reduce physical strain if you heat stress yourself during and exercise. 

Water can greatly help the digestive system. The lack of water can lead to digestive problems such as constipation, and an overly acidic stomach. This can increase the risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers. Water is needed when sweating and removal of urine and feces. 

Lack of water can lead to the blood becoming thicker and then eventually that can increase blood pressure. 

If your body is dehydrated it can lead to airways being restricted by the body so that way it can minimize water loss. So stay hydrated because this can make asthma and allergies much more dangerous than they already are. 

So make sure you drink water. Drinking water can help with various things. People are always talking about how they want to lose weight but yet they aren’t doing anything about it. So make sure to stay hydrated. If you for whatever reason forget to drink water during the day because you are so busy, get a gallon and with sharpie write down the times that you know you are going to have free drinking water.

Remember that approximately 60 percent of our body is made up of water. Therefore it is essential for our bodies to remain hydrated. Try to drink as much water as you can as it helps with less tooth decay.