Water is the world's oldest elixir of life and now comes bottled, sparkling, flavoured, infused, and even "enhanced." In today's world of wellness fads, water has come a long way, often divided into a lot of varieties that serve specific benefits, influencing hydration, energy levels and overall health. Whether it is the electrolyte-infused water that claims to replenish the lost minerals or the detox water flavoured with herbs and fruits, individuals are never failing to try new kinds of water to drink for optimal health benefits. With choices ranging from plain water, electrolyte, detox water or salt water, it becomes a common question to ask which one you should drink to benefit your overall health and wellbeing. What Does Hydration Do For The Body? Water is considered to be the basic source of hydration that plays a major role in the functioning of the body. Here are some of the important functions that water provides to the body. Every Cell Thrives On It: Without water, nutrients don't move, oxygen doesn't reach where it should have, which results in the slowing down of the body's natural repair system. Energy Depends On It: Even a small dip in the hydration level can leave people feeling sluggish. Water serves as an invisible energy charger for the body. Brain Is Made Of Water: Yes, you read right! The brain is made up of 75 per cent water and even mild dehydration can muddle the memory, mood and focus. Water Regulates Body's Temperature: Whether it is intense summer heat or post-run sweat, water helps regulate the body's temperature and prevents heat or sunstroke. Gut Health Benefits From It: Water helps in the smooth digestion and better absorption of nutrients that benefit gut health, as well as the body. Salt Water Hydration Adding salt to water seems to be an ancient Ayurvedic practice, unless you are exercising in scorching heat or losing litres of sweat daily. The regular diet already gives you recommends 5 grams of salt a day. What Happens When You Intake Extra Salt? The body starts holding onto water, which leads to bloating. The kidneys work overtime and thus produce less urine. In the long term, this can contribute to rising blood pressure. Salt Water For Hydration Is Good Or Bad For Health (Image Credits: Canva) Electrolyte Water Hydration Electrolyte water is not needed by everyone, though. These drinks contain sodium, potassium and magnesium, which are essential for muscle contractions, nerve signalling and maintaining fluid balance. When Do You Need Electrolyte Water? After hours of intense physical activity Following diarrhoea or vomiting During hot, humid conditions that make you sweat excessively When You Don't Need Electrolyte Water? Sitting in an air-conditioned office all day Walking your dog for 10 minutes Detox Water Hydration Water infused with lemon slices, cucumber rings and sprigs of mint looks beautiful and tastes refreshing. However, the truth is, detox water doesn't detoxify the body. Detoxification is efficiently done by the liver and kidneys. However, detox water does is make hydration less boring, encouraging people to drink more. Plain Water Hydration Plain water is the safest and most effective way to hydrate, as per the major health research centres across the world. It is free, accessible and calorie-free. How Much Plain Water Should You Drink A Day? Although the old mantra says eight glasses of water per day, it is not universal. Sedentary adults in air-conditioned environments must drink 2 to 2.5 litres daily Active individuals/athletes' water intake depends upon their sweat loss. Drinking more than your body needs can lead to overhydration, which is just as problematic as dehydration. When Should You Actually Drink Water? Drink water as the first thing in the morning to kickstart the system of body Drinking water before meals benefits digestion and prevents overeating After working out to restore balance and aid recovery Drink enough water during illness to help the body to fight back Drink water when feeling tired or before consuming any caffeine Plain Water vs Electrolyte vs Detox vs Salt Water: Smartest Hydration Choice For hydration, stick to plain water Intake electrolytes only when you're truly depleted. Detox waters are good only if you need motivation to drink more. Skip the salt water unless prescribed. Hydration is an essential part of the proper functioning of the body. However, whether you take it in the form of plain water, electrolyte, detox water or salt water depends upon the requirement of the body. Let's know your thoughts about it.