We all know that water is essential for our health. We ourselves, our vital tissues and organs (brain, liver, heart) are made of water, as is the space between cells. Therefore, if we don’t drink enough water there can be important consequences.
The first alarm bell of insufficient hydration is, of course, given by the feeling of thirst. It is good, however, to prevent the stimulus of thirst by maintaining a constant level of hydration by drinking often, even if only a few sips. Let’s see why.
Drinking water is essential, especially in summer, for body thermoregulation and to prevent cramps, tachycardia, dizziness.
Poor hydration has immediate effects on the skin: the lack of water, in fact, causes the sensation of dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, the classic “dry mouth”, but also the sensation of the skin that tightens.
Staying hydrated is one of the healthiest habits we can adopt.
Also, if we don’t drink enough water, we tend to feel hungrier. In the longer term, the lack of water favors the appearance of dark circles and even premature ageing with a lack of skin tone and the onset of wrinkles.
But, in the long run, there can be far more important consequences. Inadequate hydration, in fact, has repercussions on the tone of the muscles, on the joints and on the proper functioning of some digestive processes, causing, for example, constipation.
Furthermore, water is essential to allow the body to purify itself. If this process is not carried out correctly, an accumulation of toxins and an increase in the inflammatory state can occur.
Finally, the kidneys can also be affected by not functioning properly and not performing the vital purification action of the body.
So now that we have seen a few things that happens if we don’t drink enough water, now let’s see the way our body changes when we start drinking enough water.
Staying hydrated is one of the healthiest habits we can adopt.
Here are all the ways our body and brain improve when we drink the right amount of water.
We will have more energy
Cells throughout the body need water to function as cells contain water and are surrounded by water.
With dehydration, cell membranes become less permeable, hinder the flow of hormones and nutrients into the cell, and prevent the escape of waste products that cause cell damage and when this happens, we feel weakened and tired.
How much water do we need to increase our energy? The exact amount varies, but we are talking about 6-8 glasses of water per day.
Our memory improves
All synapses and neurons need liquid to function properly.
According to a research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, one of the most reliable predictors of memory decline and mental performance is dehydration.
Our attention will increase
Do you ever feel like you have no control over your attention span?
Does your mind wander, no matter how hard you try to focus on the task at hand?
Drink a large glass of water and see what happens. According to a research published in the journal Nutrients, mild dehydration interferes with brain processing and breaks down the ability to concentrate.
Just like sleep, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise combined with proper hydration make the difference.
Never miss a post:
We will be stronger and faster
Do you ever feel sore during a workout, even if you haven’t exercised since the day before?
The difficulty you feel when trying to lift a heavier weight or push yourself a few miles further may be due to dehydration and not a lack of strength.
A research suggests that even a 2% drop in hydration can cause significant loss of strength and motivation while increasing the feeling of fatigue.
Drinking enough water will improve our digestion
If you struggle with the intestine and bowel movements, know that by drinking more water you can help the transit.
Our skin will be more radiant
Have you ever had a spa treatment, such as a massage or facial and your therapist reminded you to drink water instead of champagne?
This is because the skin can greatly benefit from hydration, becoming more radiant because our skin, the largest organ in our body, depends on water to produce new cells and give us a flow effect.
Our skin also needs water to do its job of regulating the body temperature.
According to a research, our skin contains 30% water which increases the elasticity and vitality of the skin.
Our mood will improve
Always hydrate your body, even when you are away from home and when it is particularly hot.
Even 1-2% reduction in optimal hydration can start to destroy our mood, according to a research from the University of Connecticut.
The moods of the women in the study under consideration became angry and they were more likely to experience headaches and fatigue.
In fact, precisely in summer, the need for hydration becomes more urgent as the body, sweating, loses more mineral salts which must be integrated with water.
Think that once you start hydrating yourself enough, within only seven days you’ll have fewer aches and pains and bowel movements will become more regulated and frequent.
After one month of being properly hydrated you can expect clearer and radiant skin, mental clarity and muscle strength.
Beyond the fact that it makes us look and feel great, proper hydration is necessary for the proper functioning of every single organ and tissue in our body.
Also, if you want to reduce the risk of diseases and disorders, like urinary tract infections, hypertension, coronary heart disease, glaucoma and gallstone disease, start hydrating yourself properly.
Start sipping and start feeling great!
