Often considered a simple health tip, staying hydrated also plays a big role in keeping your body healthy and avoiding many common illnesses. Water is vital to the human body as it forms about 60 percent of our entire body weight. Hydration plays a role in literally helping the body to digest, support immunity, and so many more. In this article we’re going to test why hydration is important, the diseases related to dehydration and tips to stay hydrated enough.
Why the body needs to be hydrated
Without water, the human body does not function properly. It helps digest food, helps circulate nutrients throughout the blood and keeps body temperature in check, alongside lubricating joints. Also, staying hydrated helps support a robust immune system by helping produce lymph — fluid that carries white blood cells to fight infections.
All these vital functions start faltering when the body is dehydrated. Fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness and dark colored urine are all common symptoms of dehydration. Severe health problems stemming from chronic dehydration are always more likely to occur to totally dehydrated individuals who did not rehydrate enough during a day’s preoccupation.
Dehydration Linked To Common Illnesses
A dehydration increases the risk of many illnesses. Below are some of the most common health issues related to inadequate water intake:
- Headaches and Migraines: Headaches and migraines have a long list of known drug and alcohol triggers, and dehydration is at the top of the list. The brain temporarily shrinks if there’s not enough water intake, resulting in pain and discomfort.
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): If you drink enough water you flush out toxins and bacteria from the urinary tract, making it difficult for infections to develop. On the other hand, dehydration increases the risk.
- Constipation: Softening stool to promote regular bowel movement requires water. Constipation can develop, and you’ll also feel more uncomfortable and uncomfortable in general if you’re not hydrated enough.
- Kidney Stones: Dehydration increases levels of minerals in the urine and raises the risk of getting kidney stones. Enough water drinking dilutes these minerals and lessens the risk.
- Skin Issues: Dehydrated skin does not stay elastic and can easily become dry, flaky, curling and prone to irritation and infection.
How Hydration Strengthens the Immune System
Water is essential to a robust immune system. Filtration through water helps keep toxins in the body flushed out so such nasty substances don’t build up. Hydration keeps mucous membranes in the respiratory tract moist, as a barrier to pathogenic organisms. In addition, proper water has to be ingested in order to produce lymph, a necessary part of the immune system. Being well hydrated will fortify your body to naturally defend against the cold and the flu by keeping you less susceptible.
How Much Water is Enough?
How much water you should be drinking each day depends on things like age, weight, activity level, and climate. The recommended eight glasses a day is a good beginning, but experts, including the best general physicians, say water intake should be adjusted to the individual case. Your general guideline should be to drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. For example, someone weighing 150 pounds should get about 75 ounces of water a day.
Additionally, overhydration has signs, if anything occurs to cause hyponatremia. This happens when levels in your blood become too low for too long (a condition called hyponaitious), highlighting why hydration is about more than just keeping you full.
Tips to Stay Hydrated
It doesn’t have to be difficult to stay properly hydrated. Here are some practical tips to ensure you’re drinking enough water:
- When you are thirsty, listen to your body and drink water.
- Make it a part of your diet to add hydrating foods such as cucumbers, watermelon and oranges.
- Set reminders or use an app to remind you to take water in everyday.
- Instead, choose herbal teas and low sugar beverages as substitutes for plain water.
- Have a reusable water bottle along to keep water handy whenever you feel you need it.
Special Considerations
However, children, the elderly, and athletes do have unique hydration needs. Children are smaller and run more risk of becoming dehydrated, and elderly people have a lower sense of thirst. On the other hand, athletes sweat out large amounts of water and need additional hydration to replace what is lost. When you are ill, it is imperative to consult a general physician to determine your specific hydration needs, as staying hydrated is crucial for a speedy recovery.
Conclusion
Good health is not complete without good hydration, which prevents most illnesses and helps maintain vital functions of the body. The benefits of proper hydration are immense with the increased risk of UTIs and headaches reduced as a result. If you make hydration a daily habit, drink enough water practically, you can enhance your lifetime health and wellbeing greatly. And remember, your body loves to be well hydrated so let that water bottle come in handy and drink up!
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