Water–the quencher of thirst that is essential to our everyday lives but often misunderstood and underrated. Water does incredible things to our body, but a lack of it can also bring a lot of problems for our everyday lives. In this comprehensive post, we’re going to give you a big guide on water. We’re going to cover why it’s important, give you some science-based health benefits and also explain how you can get more water in your body.
This is going to be the big guide on water that you never knew you needed!
Why Water is Important
Let’s start by explaining why water is important to our everyday lives by listing a couple of functions of water.
- Water helps your body remove waste. Drinking plenty of water means that your body can get rid of waste such as your urine and sweat. No water in your body means no way to remove waste.
- Water helps with your digestion. Your saliva helps you digest food and it’s made up from mostly water. Having plenty of water in your body helps with your digestion and makes it easier for you to digest certain types of food.
- Water protects your body. Water also has the ability to protect your body, acting as a lubricant for your spine and providing moisture to many important areas of your body.
- Water keeps you hydrated. We cover hydration in a topic below in much greater detail, but the bottom line is to stay hydrated so that your body and mind can function properly
These are the basic functions of water and why they’re essential to our everyday lives. Some of these might sound obvious, others might be a little too scientific and some might seem insignificant. The best way for us to really show the importance of water isn’t to just list the benefits, but what happens when your body lacks water. In other words; dehydration.
The Dangers of Dehydration
Dehydration is when your body lacks water. No, it doesn’t just mean that you’re thirsty. Instead, there could be some very serious health concerns as a result of dehydration, so to give you plenty of warning we’ll be listing some of the big signs of dehydration then explain what could happen.
- Feeling thirsty, often very suddenly
- Muscle cramps
- Sleepiness
- Lack of energy
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Feeling highly irritable
- Rapid heartbeat
- Heavy breathing
- Occasional disorientation
- Difficulty urinating
- Fainting
If you notice any of these common signs of dehydration then it’s a good idea to speak to your physician immediately. They’ll be able to help you deal with the complications while also providing you with tips on how to consume more water throughout the day. We’ll also give you some practical tips on how to get more water in your body later in this article, so stay tuned till the end or go ahead and skip to the bottom if you feel like you’re struggling to get enough water even now.
Now that we’ve covered the main signs of dehydration, let’s talk about the possible complications. Perhaps you’re fine dealing with a headache now and then or maybe you don’t think your lack of energy is to do with your dehydration. Whatever your situation might be, let’s look at the complications to see how bad your dehydration can get if you choose to continue ignoring it. Here’s what you might experience:
- Seizures are common in those who have a severe imbalance of electrolytes, often caused by dehydration
- Shock is a complication of dehydration due to the reduced amount of blood in the body. This leads to a lack of blood pressure which could end up becoming fatal.
- Kidney stones are another complication that comes from a lack of fluids in the body. This could even lead to a urinary tract infection which can develop into more serious conditions.
- Kidney damage as a result of kidney stones or a urinary tract infection.
- Overheating can lead to cramps around the body or even a heatstroke which can be fatal without the right assistance at the right time.
As you can see, dehydration is a serious problem. Drinking enough water throughout the day will ensure that your body stays healthy and that your risk of developing any of these complications remains low.
Dehydration is common in people that are struggling with liquid loss. For instance, if you’ve been vomiting a lot due to another illness or have diabetes, then your loss of liquid and decreased fluid intake could result in dehydration.
Science-Based Benefits of Drinking Water
So now that you know the complications of not drinking enough water, let’s talk about something more positive; the benefits! Many people simply drink enough water so that they don’t suffer from dehydration or similar effects, but you can actually experience some benefits if you provide your body with the hydration it needs.
So let’s take a look at some health benefits of staying well-hydrated that are based on science, statistics and facts.
- Improves your brain function.
- Helps you physically.
- Prevents hangovers.
- Weight loss.
- Relieve constipation.
- Treat headaches
Drinking Too Much Water?
Too much of anything is bad, and water is no exception to that rule. Whether you’re constantly sipping water even if you’re not thirsty or focus on making your urine as clear as possible, there are many signs to look out for that will indicate you’re drinking a little too much water.
If you feel nauseous after drinking water or find yourself urinating incredibly often, then it’s worth cutting back on your water intake and slowing down. Although plenty of water can prevent headaches, it also has the power to cause them if you drink too much water. You’ll also find that your muscles can cramp easily and feel tired if you try to take in too much liquid.
In short, be aware of the signs of drinking too much water–they can be just as deadly as dehydration
How Much is Enough?
You’ll see plenty of physicians recommending a certain number of glasses each day and you might even hear friends and family members repeating the same number. Perhaps it’s 8 glasses a day, 2 litres or some other arbitrary measurement. The reality is that nobody knows how much water you personally need to drink because it’s going to depend on your own body.
Thankfully, we have an easy way to tell if we’re drinking enough water; our urine.
Our urine changes color depending on how well our liver is managing to clear up all of the waste in our bodies. Thanks to this, we’re actually able to tell how much we should be drinking by just examining the color of our urine. There are many charts that explain when you should see a physician and when you should drink or stop drinking water, but we can simplify for you.
If your urine is a dark color such as yellow or orange, drink more water. Sip at your water throughout the day and if your urine slowly goes pale, you’re starting to hydrate yourself. However, if you find that your urine goes almost colorless or very pale yellow that you can barely make out, you’re drinking too much, Your urine should never be completely colorless.
How to Drink More Water
Now it’s time to learn how you can drink more water throughout the day.
- Drink more water after you urinate. You’re losing water when you urinate, so it’s important to get in the habit of replenishing it.
- Sip, don’t chug. The idea is to drink water throughout the day so your body has time to absorb it. Avoid drinking too much at once!
- Set and alarm to remind yourself. A simple phone alarm should be enough to give you a reminder.
- Purchase a water filter. A water filter is cheap, easy to use and provides you with more peace of mind when drinking tap water. Consider something like branded Berkey water filter systems if you want instant access to filtered water instead of waiting for a regular filter.
- Add some flavor. Try infusing your water with fruits and vegetables or consider tea instead for a little extra taste and benefits such as antioxidants.
- Change your diet. Drinking more water can also mean trying more soups and adding water-rich vegetables to your diet such as cucumber.
- Slowly swap out your common drinks. A lot of people binge on things like coffee, sugary drinks and fruit choice. Try changing one of these each day with just a glass of water. It’ll save you money and be healthier for you!
Summary
We hope that this comprehensive guide on water has taught you something. Our goal for this article is simple; get more people drinking water. Whether it’s understanding the risks of dehydration or the benefits of staying hydrated, we believe that many people underestimate the importance of drinking water. Don’t make the same mistake and take your water intake seriously. Not only will you avoid getting hydrated, but you’ll also take advantage of some fantastic benefits.
