(Wellness Montana) Many of us know that good health correlates to drinking lots of water. Without water we die; our organs and tissues need it to survive and thrive.

However, many Americans are chronically dehydrated. Constantly busy and distracted, most people wait to drink water until they feel thirsty—which is a sign that you’re already dehydrated! Without water, your body’s organs and systems cease to function well. Even mild dehydration can cause maladies such as fatigue, joint and low back pain, and toxic build up.

Consider the ways your different systems use water:

• Digestive System – Digestion begins in the mouth. Saliva starts the breakdown of food and helps the body chew and swallow it. Digestion then continues in the stomach where water is necessary to digest food and vitamins such as the C and multiple B vitamins. Without enough water, these vitamins are not properly absorbed.
• Circulatory System – Your blood carries nutrients and oxygen to every tissue in your body. It also carries hormones, which tells the body how and when to respond to different situations. Without the proper amount of water, the circulatory system becomes sluggish and unable to function well.
• Nervous System – Your brain is the control center of the body, and the spinal cord and nervous system communicate the brain’s directions. The transmission of nerve impulses depends largely on the water present in your system. Without enough water, the “messages” sent through the nervous system are not conveyed as quickly or as well.
• Metabolic Waste Processing – The lymphatic system, the kidneys, and the large intestines are all components of your body’s waste management system. As food is digested through the large intestine, the intestines rid the body of any material that was not absorbed by the small intestine. It also pulls large quantities of water back into the bloodstream to be filtered by the kidneys. The kidneys ensure that the blood contains the necessary salts and also clean the blood of all unwanted materials. The lymphatic system ensures that the blood has the right fluid levels, and reabsorbs fluid back into the circulatory system to maintain this balance.
• Movement and Joint Function – Synovial fluid cushions and protects every movable joint in your body. It is comprised almost entirely of water, which enables it to absorb the compression between joint surfaces. It also delivers nutrients to the bones and cartilage to keep them healthy and moving. Without water, early degeneration or injury is far more common.

Many health experts say that a person’s minimum water requirements should be half their body weight in ounces. In other words, if a person weighs 150 lbs, he or she should drink at least 75 oz. of water.

Question: Now that you know these facts, what are some creative ways you can drink more water throughout the day?