In modern society, the preconceived solution to most problems is simply drinking more water.

Time and time again, the concept of drinking more water surfaces to resolve issues. Does this mean society is promoting a misconception about the importance of hydration?  

The answer is no.

Despite the vast amount of misleading information regarding the health benefits of water, drinking water is actually so significant. Water plays a large role in both an individual’s physical and mental health.

Women’s physical education teacher, Julie Millhauser, often vocalizes this importance towards her students.

“Drinking water is a vital part of keeping us healthy… it improves energy and brain function, physical performance, helps body systems function correctly, and can help with headaches,” noted Millhauser.

Although water provides many health benefits, expressing this importance to students is not always easy. Even though students might suddenly become aware of the advantages of consuming water, not all will take action on the matter. Yet, health and wellness teacher, Kali Maxwell, might have discovered the perfect solution.

“I mention in class the effects of dehydration and the mental and physical decline that can occur in hopes that this leads to students consuming more water,” stated Maxwell.

By discussing these topics, students become more aware of their water consumption. Even though teachers encourage students to drink water, not all are successful. More often than not, students can be seen with other beverages, such as sugary drinks from Dutch Bros, or heavily sweetened lattes from Starbucks. Despite some students’ actions, Maxwell actively teaches her students how to avoid continuing practices such as this. 

“Rather than soda and Dutch drinks, students should be carrying around water and drinking that all day,” exclaimed Maxwell.

Even though water is a much healthier alternative, not all students enjoy the taste of water. Ultimately, drinking water generally comes down to an individual’s matter of taste and overall preference. Numerous individuals might argue that the taste of water is bland and uninteresting, yet what other alternatives provide the same level of hydration and satiate one’s taste buds?

The answer can be found in carbonated beverages such as sparkling water and carbonated seltzers. 

Unlike soda, sparkling and seltzer waters provide the same amount of hydration, without all of the damaging chemicals and sugar.  Whether a student drinks bottled water or a sparkling seltzer, any of these alternatives will suffice over not consuming it at all. 

Going along with the concept of hydration, accessibility is a huge factor in an individual’s overall water consumption. Having a convenient source of water around greatly increases a student’s chances of drinking more water, as Millhauser has uncovered. 

“Bottled water is also nice because it is easy to travel with and easily accessible everywhere in the world,” commented Millhauser. 

From constantly refilling water bottles to carrying around flavored sparkling water, any form of water is better than none. By implementing more water, a student will not only see a change in their overall physical health, but their cognitive behavior will become stronger as well.