The Importance of Hydration

Your body depends on water for survival. Water makes up more than half of your body weight - every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to function correctly. For example, your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste and lubricate joints. Water is essential for good health. Even healthy eaters often underestimate the importance of their water intake and end up suffering from chronic, low-grade dehydration.

Here are just a few reasons why correct hydration is essential to good health:

Energy

Poor hydration slows enzyme activity and can lower metabolism, thereby causing fatigue and reducing ability to exercise efficiently.

Digestion

Insufficient water does not allow optimal secretion of digestive juices, thereby limiting the digestive process.

Regularity

The colon is required to absorb excess liquid from food and transfer it into the bloodstream allowing for a stool of normal consistency to form. A body low in water makes for difficulties in eliminating stool, and worse, may lead to constipation.

Blood Pressure

Chronic dehydration causes blood to become thicker and more viscous, which cause contraction of the blood vessels. This results in the body needing to work harder to push blood through the veins, resulting in elevated blood pressure.

Respiration

The moist mucus membranes in the respiratory region are protective. In a state of chronic dehydration, they dry out and become vulnerable to attack from elements such as dust and pollen.

Weight Management

Feelings of thirst may be confused with hunger, both because eating can soothe thirst and because dehydration-induced fatigue may be misinterpreted as a lack of fuel.

Skin Health

Dehydrated skin loses elasticity and has a dry, flaky appearance and texture. It can also lead to skin irritation and rashes as sweat becomes more concentrated and toxins are not removed effectively.

Cholesterol

In a state of chronic dehydration and too much liquid is removed from with the cell walls, the body tries to stop the loss by producing more cholesterol to shore up the cell membrane, with the overproduction raising the cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.

Kidney and Urinary Health

Not drinking enough water leads to the kidneys struggling to flush water-soluble toxins from the system. This in turn leads to inadequately diluted toxins in the urine, causing irritation and infection.

Joint Health

Dehydrated cartilage and ligaments are more brittle and prone to damage. Joints may also become inflamed, setting the stage for arthritis.

Aging

Normal aging process involves a gradual loss of cell volume and an imbalance of fluids. Dehydration accelerates this process.

The next blog will deal with our top 10 tips on staying hydrated.

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Sources: Experience Life, Family Doctor, The Daily Meal, Runners World