Its not news to most that our bodies are made of around 70% water (online sources vary from 60 to 80%) so its important that we keep ourselves topped up regularly, this article will explain some of the reasons why anyone looking to gain lean muscle mass or strip fat should pay close attention to such a basic body requirement.

So how much water should we consume?

The EFSA recommends a daily intake of 2.5 litres for men and 2 litres for women, extra water should be consumed if you’re working out and sweating profusely (which you should be!) however it is important not to consume too much as this will cause havoc with the body and its sodium levels.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of drinking water are vast, from relieving headaches, joint pain and constipation, but what about specifically for bodybuilding or fat loss?

1. Water helps metabolise fat.

When the body is dehydrated the kidneys cant function correctly and they ask the liver for help, if the liver is busy helping the kidneys then its not metabolising fat, so by keeping your water intake up you will ease the pressure on your liver and enable it to do what its meant to.

2. Water helps you digest food.

Water actually helps all of your organs function correctly, your intestines are no different, with adequate water intake you will be able to digest your meals more efficiently and reap the benefits of all the nutritious food you’ve been consuming.

3. Water also helps your supplements work.

Vitamins? Water Soluble. Creatine? Requires water to retain in the muscles. Just 2 examples of supplements that work better when you’re properly hydrated.

4. Water reduces fluid retention.

Yup, you did read that right, staying hydrated reduces the amount of water your body retains. When dehydrated the body goes in to water storage mode to preserve itself, so by keeping hydrated your body has no need to do this. You’re correct in thinking this leads to slightly leaner muscle definition.

5. Water stops early fatigue and overheating.

By keeping your water intake up before and during a workout you can suppress the time it takes for fatigue to set in, more importantly it will also stop your body overheating, this is especially important when young children take part in physical activity as they can overheat quickly.

There are of course many more reasons to drink water, however the ones above are aimed specifically at those wanting to gain an edge be it at bodybuilding or losing weight, increase your water intake accordingly and notice the difference!