Many do not fully understand why proper hydration is important especially in hot weather although they know that staying hydrated is essential to maintaining health and well-being.
Understanding the importance of water consumption is beneficial as you have a better understanding of every day occurrences like fatigue, constipation, brain fogginess for example so that you can take steps to improve your well being.
What Does Staying Hydrated Mean?
First things first: what does “staying hydrated” actually mean?
Simply put, it is about achieving and maintaining an adequate water balance in your body. The amount of water you need depends on several factors, including age, weight, activity level, and overall health.
Generally, most people need 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water per day, and even more if they are physically active or live in a hot climate. This is important.
So if you do live in a colder climate, when temperatures become high during the summer months, you should be drinking more water than the suggested 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water per day.
Unfortunately, many do not do so and only reach put to quench their thirst at the point where they have already started to become dehydrated.
The Most Immediate Benefit – Staving Off Fatigue
One of the most immediate benefits of staying well-hydrated is that it can help stave off fatigue.
Your cells rely on water to properly function, and when you are dehydrated, the body has to work harder to perform basic everyday tasks—which leads to feeling tired or sluggish.
However, when you are adequately hydrated, your body can take advantage of its natural energy reserve, minimizing fatigue and allowing you to tackle your day with greater ease and efficiency. Try it!
Why is Hydration Important to the Body – 9 Other Benefits
So, what exactly are the other health benefits of staying hydrated?
Regulates Body Temperature Better
When you do not drink enough water, your body struggles to regulate its own temperature, meaning that you could end up feeling cold when it is hot outside or vice versa.
Staying properly hydrated helps ensure that the body temperature stays constant in any environment you may find yourself in.
Helps Relieve Constipation
Constipation can be an uncomfortable and even painful experience, and it affects many people around the world. But did you know that staying hydrated can actually help relieve constipation?
When you do not drink enough water and other fluids, stool can become harder, making it more difficult to pass. Staying properly hydrated helps keep our digestion regulated and makes it easier to go.
During hotter temperatures, we tend to sweat a lot more, thereby losing water. Failure to replenish can create very bothersome constipation conditions!
Helps Treat Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can be a very painful condition, but they are also very preventable. Drinking enough fluids is one of the best ways to prevent kidney stones.
Staying hydrated helps flush out any excess minerals in your kidneys, reducing your risk of developing a stone. So if you have a history of kidney stones, make sure you drink plenty of fluids throughout the day!
Can Treat or Prevent Headaches
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of headaches, so it makes sense that one of the most effective ways to treat them is to stay hydrated.
Drinking water throughout the day helps keep headaches at bay, as well as providing relief if you are already dealing with one.
Can Prevent Hangovers
The morning after a night out is never fun, but if you stay hydrated throughout the night you can greatly reduce your chances of having a hangover.
Drinking plenty of water helps counterbalance any alcohol consumed and prevents dehydration from occurring. So make sure you drink more water than alcohol next time you go out!
Helps in Weight Loss
Drinking water can actually help you lose weight! That’s right – when you drink enough fluid your body is able to break down fat deposits more efficiently, so drinking lots of water can actually help boost your metabolism and aid in weight loss efforts.
Improves Brain Performance
Staying properly hydrated does more than just help your physical health; it also has major benefits for your cognitive performance too!
When we lack fluids, our brains don’t get enough oxygen or glucose, so drinking enough water helps ensure that our brains are functioning optimally, eliminating brain fogginess.
This can lead to improved focus, concentration, and alertness – something we could all use in our day-to-day lives, and most especially seniors!
Reduced Pain in Joints
If you’re dealing with joint pain, you should definitely take a look at how much water you’re drinking because dehydration can cause the joints to become stiffer and more painful.
Keeping up your fluid intake helps reduce joint pain and makes them feel more flexible.
Improves Heart Health
When the body is dehydrated, the heart has to work harder than usual to pump blood around our bodies, leading to tension in the heart and an increased risk of heart ailments such as heart attacks or strokes.
Drinking plenty of water ensures that the heart does not have to work overtime!
Overall, these are just some of the many incredible health benefits of staying properly hydrated daily. From treating headaches to improving heart health, there are so many reasons why it is so important that we drink enough fluids every day.
Causes of Dehydration
The most common causes of dehydration are:
- excessive sweating
- fever,
- diarrhea and vomiting, and
- urinating too much.
What are the Symptoms of Dehydration?
The symptoms of dehydration vary depending on the severity but can include extreme thirst, less frequent urination, dark-colored urine, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, dry skin, and/or dry mouth.
If these symptoms occur, it is important to immediately replenish your body’s fluids by drinking plenty of water and other fluids such as sports drinks or electrolyte drinks.
Effects of Dehydration
The effects of dehydration range from mild to severe.
Why is it Important to Maintain Hydration?
Mild dehydration can cause symptoms such as dry mouth, tiredness, thirst, and headache.
Severe dehydration can cause symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, weakness, fainting, and extreme thirst. It can also lead to serious medical complications such as kidney failure and shock. In extreme cases, it can be fatal.
Related Article
How to Get Rid of Constipation Quickly – Feel Good Again
Conclusion – Why Proper Hydration is Important
Now that you have a better understanding about why proper hydration is important, the main takeaway is that proper hydration is essential for optimal health.
Ensure that you are drinking the recommended 8-10 glasses per day (and more if you are physically active), and keep tabs on any changes in fluid intake throughout the day to improve overall health!
References
Dehydration – Symptoms and causes – Mayo ClinicDehydration: Causes & Symptoms (clevelandclinic.org)
