Question for you:

How much water have you drank today?

Most people will say “not enough”.

Everything we drink and swim in, to the ice that reduces swelling, water is everywhere (even in us) – it basically is us!

Water makes up around two thirds of who we are and influences every single process in our body…

Which probably explains why we feel a lot better when we drink enough of it.

You might already be aware of the many “tips and tricks” out there on “how to avoid a bad back” and “how to relieve the pain”, but have you heard of drinking more water to help with that?

I’m guessing not!

I get it – it might sound too “simple” to make a difference, but dehydration really can be one of the culprits of back pain, and one of the reasons why it stays around for longer than it needs to.

Let me explain…

You already know that water affects every organ and cell in your body, but it also plays an enormous role in the health of your back and spine.

Between each section of the spine (vertebrae) is a disc – which are mainly made up of water.

During the day when we’re standing up, they slowly become dehydrated, then at night when we’re laying down, they rehydrate themselves again – as long as there’s enough water in the body!

If you don’t have enough water in your body, then it’s not good news for your discs and eventually this lack of water can cause pain, swelling and even more problems further down the line.

Just imagine it like a car engine, it needs to keep lubricated to run properly – your body needs water for your joints, organs and muscles to function.

Now do you see why water intake is so important?

We all know it is!

Just not many of us knew that without enough of it back pain can creep up and stay around for longer.

So, let’s take a look at a few things so you can start living with less back pain:

1) Signs that you’re not drinking enough water – so you can start drinking more of it!

2) What you can expect when you start drinking more water.

3) Helpful tips to help you increase your intake!

Let’s dive in!

Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water

How do you really know you’re not drinking enough water?

The most obvious reason is feeling thirsty, but here’s some not so obvious signs:

– Feeling tired

– Dizziness

– Dry skin and lips

– Headaches

– Constipation

– Mood swings

– And, of course… joint pain

The list goes on!

But one of the best and most reliable signs is to check your urine – if it’s dark and not a light yellow colour, get more water in your system!

What To Expect When You Start Drinking More Water

We already know that water is great for you, but after a few weeks of drinking more of it, what benefits can you expect to see?

Less pain in your back for one!

You’ll feel healthier, your eyes may not feel as tired and you’ll feel more alert.

Also, water can help you lose weight (if it’s something you’d like to achieve), your skin will look clearer and you’ll have a natural glow!

You’ll likely find you don’t need to reach for the coffee 4 times a day because you feel much more alert.

How Do You Increase Your Water Intake?

Apart from using a bigger glass to down your water with, here’s a few other tips that might work better for you.

I’ll start with my favourite – drinking a glass right after waking up.

Before I go to bed, I always put a glass of water on my bedside table, so that when I wake up in the morning, the first things I see is a glass of water right next to me.

It’s a great feeling knowing that I’ve already consumed almost 15% of my daily water intake before my day has even started.

Why not give it a go, after a week or two it will be a new habit and you’ll feel more energetic for it.

Another way is to switch it up.

Water can be boring, I agree with you there, but it doesn’t have to be.

Mix it up between still and sparkling water, add lemon, cucumber or other fruits to your water.

Experiment with it and try to find something that suits you.

You could even make your own lemonade or mix it with fruit juices.

And there you have it…

Why you need to drink more water to help ease aches and pains.

Did you have any idea that it played such a huge role in your joint health?!

Don’t let another day go by of being dehydrated – now you have a few simple tips to help you drink more water each day.