Being hydrated makes our body more able to function well and more effective in performing against discomfort and the bad side effects of the aging process. Life on earth has a natural affinity with water and it is a very big deal for complicated organisms like us to keep our body from dried out.
If you could point to the very first thing that determined your health and wellness, it might be water. Or more specifically not drinking enough of it. Depending on your weight and age, the amount of water in the human body ranges from 50-75%. The average adult human body is 50-65% water, averaging around 57-60%. The percentage of water in infants is much higher, typically around 75-78% water, dropping to 65% by one year of age.
With those numbers, hydration becomes critical for many of the body’s functions. Trace minerals and ionic minerals can also help with dehydration. This infographic provides a great explanation about what happens when we don’t drink enough water:
Fatigue
Water is the most vital sources of energy in the body. dehydration causes the enzymatic activity in the body to slow down, resulting in tiredness and fatigue.
Asthma and Allergies
When dehydrated, your body will restrict airways as a means to conserve water. In fact, the rate of histamine produced by the body increases exponentially as the body loses more water.
High Blood Pressure
The blood is normally about 92% water when the body is fully hydrated. When dehydrated, the blood becomes thicker causing resistance to blood flow, which results in elevated blood pressure.
High Cholesterol
When the body is dehydrated, it will produce more cholesterol to prevent water loss from the cells.
Skin disorders
Dehydration impairs the elimination of toxins through the skin and makes it more vulnerable to all types of skin disorders, including dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as premature wrinkling and discoloration.
Digestive Disorders
A shortage of water and alkaline minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, can lead to a number of digestive disorders, including ulcers, gastritis and acid reflux.
Bladder or Kidney Problems
With a dehydrated body, the accumulation of toxins and acid waste creates an environment where bacteria thrive, resulting in the bladder and kidney to be more prone to infection, inflammation and pain.
Constipation
When short of water, the colon is one of the primary regions the body draws water from in order to provide fluids for other critical body functions. Without adequate water, wastes move through the large intestines much more slowly or sometimes not at all, resulting in constipation.
Joint Pain or Stiffness
All joints have cartilage padding which is composed mainly of water. When the body is dehydrated, cartilage is weakened and joint repair is slow resulting in pain and discomfort.
Weight Gain
When dehydrated, cells are depleted of energy. As a result people tend to eat more when, in reality, the body is thirsty.
Premature Aging
When chronically dehydrated, the body’s organs, including its largest organ, the skin, begins to wrinkle and wither prematurely.
