We all know how every influencer or celebrity’s number one tip is to drink more water, and many people have followed their lead with giant water bottles full of inspirational messages and quotas for the day. However, what are the real benefits of drinking more water, specifically is a gallon of water a day too much?
Luckily, you came to the right place to have these questions answered. I have researched all angles of drinking a gallon of water a day and can confidently reassure you on your concerns and questions.
First things first, is it healthy to drink a gallon of water a day? Yes and no. It is definitely not unhealthy, but the consensus of the real health benefits vs if you should drink a whole gallon regularly vary. There are a few tangible benefits of drinking more water and even a gallon of water a day:
1. Puffiness
When we don’t have enough water, our body retains it. One of the most noticeable areas that retain water when we don’t drink enough is around our eyes. This is that dreaded eye puffiness we get in the morning. If this is a major issue for you, it could be a sign that you need to drink more water!
2. Metabolism
Drinking a gallon of water can improve your metabolism. This means some significant weight loss if you are looking to lose a few pounds. Faster metabolisms break down food faster as well as overall have a better digestive system with more energy.
3. Headaches
This was a game changer for me. Before committing to a gallon a day, I was severely dehydrated most of the time and had awful headaches as a result. If you have painful headaches that you can’t seem to shake, then you know how terrible you feel until the pain begins to subside. Instead of powering through it until the next spell, try drinking a gallon a day and see if you start to feel a major difference like I did.
4. Brain Fog
Along the same lines, the correct amount of water can eliminate brain fog, which is also known as being “out of it”. This feeling is not only unpleasant but prevents us from living our lives like we want and being productive even when we really need to be. No more foggy Mondays that hold us back from taking on the day in full force, we are properly hydrating now!
5. Toxins
Another large perk of including more water in your routine is more water intake can flush out toxins from your body. Your body already removed the toxins naturally, but the more you drink, the more you will pee resulting in better toxin excretion.
It also helps wash out any other things that need to be flushed out such as extra sodium which can cause puffiness in your hands and feet. If this is the case, drink more water and try to lower the amount of salt in your diet.
6. Body Excretion
Speaking of excretion, you also have more stable and consistent body excretion. Constipation is the result of not enough water in your system as well as a few other issues from dehydration when it comes to properly breaking down our food. Luckily, water can fix that and result in more trips to the bathroom when things are back to working properly.
7. Better Workouts
Workouts may seem like the last thing you’d want to worry about. However, drinking more water can make workouts a tad bit less terrible by lubricating your muscles and joints. This will help keep your pain levels down even on leg day. Also, the more water you drink, the more energy you will have, so even on long days, you won’t go into the workout feeling sluggish and tired.
8. Fills you Up
If you are trying to diet or stop overeating, drinking more water can help suppress your large appetite at the beginning stages. It will fill up your stomach and help keep you full for longer. However, water is not a substitute for food, so be sure to nourish your body with the necessary macro levels of protein, carbs, and fats. Managing your diet is great, when done properly. There is no need to starve ourselves. However, a gallon of water is a great pairing with proper diets.
Conclusion
While there are some that debate over whether an entire gallon of water a day is excessive, everyone agrees that adding more water into your daily routine can only benefit you. With the spectators, my response is there are definitely no downsides to drinking a gallon of water a day, other than extra bathroom trips, so why not give it a try?
