The body desperately craves water when it is not given enough on a daily basis, but do you know how it negatively impacts the body’s function? Water is imperative to keeping excellent health, and it makes up around 65% of the body’s composition. In order for the body to work the way it was created to work, water intake on a regular basis is essential.

Unhealthy Habits on the Rise
With so many other beverages available to Americans, a large percentage of the population does not drink enough water. They replace their water intake with such beverages as soft drinks, juice drinks, coffees, expressos, and Kool-Aids. Individuals drinking these on a regular basis are gaining some hydration, but they are not gaining all the benefits of drinking plain water.

So, let’s review some of the negatives of insufficient water intake:

1. Increasing Weight Gain
Decreasing water intake can increase the weight gain. The dehydrated body will try to hold onto what fluids it can – known by many as water retention. This defense mechanism of the body causes additional and unnecessary weight gain.

2. Decreasing Energy Levels
Do you wonder why you have no energy most of the time? Consider how much water you are swallowing on a daily basis. You may not be getting enough, and the body is reacting, trying to make up for the imbalance.

3. Diminished Focus
The brain is made of around 80% water, and dehydrated brains struggle to maintain function. Even slight dehydration can cause the inability to think clearly. One research study in the United Kingdom revealed simply adding more water (even when slightly dehydrated) can improve brain function by nearly 15%.

4. Growing Irritability
For those who seem to grow increasingly irritable, they may need to add more water to their routine. Two research studies directed at the University of Connecticut reveals individuals who were even slightly dehydrated suffered from increased moodiness, more fatigue, and a greater number of headaches. Skipping the water is not the best choice.

5. The Desire to Eat More
Hunger is often confused with the need for more water. The body signals it needs water in the same way it needs food. Individuals who are dehydrated may tend to eat more instead of reaching for a glass of water. They confuse hunger signals with the body’s cue for water. Drinking a glass of water first before eating and waiting twenty minutes is the best choice. Then, if the body still feels hungry, it is more than a likely sign of nutrition.

6. Lowered Metabolism
Conferring to a study printed in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, individuals who drank two glasses of water increased their metabolism by close to 30%. The research also noted individuals who added six cups of water per day to their routine burned close to an additional 18,000 calories over one year. This is equivalent to losing an additional five pounds of body weight.

7. Increased Risk of Stroke & More
Did you know when an individual is dehydrated, their risk of a stroke increases? Those who suffer from a stroke also need sufficient water to recover more quickly, according to research studies.

There are many other negative impacts on the body when there is a low intake of water. Headaches occur more frequently; skin health is affected, constipation of the bowels occur, and the kidneys cannot function properly. When the body is dehydrated, the heart works harder. Men who are dehydrated can suffer from erectile dysfunction.

Drinking plenty of water through each day is highly important for excellent health. There are so many positives it will provide for the body. Consider drinking a glass of water every hour (or so) and replace other beverages for optimal results.



Copyright © Dr. Don Colbert
All rights reserved. Used by permission.