Did you know that up to 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated? According to the National Academy of Medicine, women are recommended to have 90 ounces of water per day and men 125 ounces per day. That’s about 10 to 11 cups of water for women and 14 to 15 cups of water for men. Are you drinking enough water? And, what happens when you’re not getting enough H2O? There are a host of problems that could happen. Here are 4 major ones:
1. Headaches
Our brains are composed of 73 percent water. When we are dehydrated, the brain can actually shrink in size and cause headaches or migraines. At the same time, dehydration causes our blood vessels to narrow, which contributes to the intensity of the headache or migraine.
By drinking enough water, we boost our cognitive function, improving the ability to think and memory. In fact, studies show that drinking 8 to 10 cups of water can sharpen our ability to think and work by as much as 30 percent.
2. Bad breath and more
Drinking enough water, which most of us don’t, helps our mouths produce enough saliva, which minimizes bacteria and plaque inside our mouths. Without enough H2O, bacteria multiply causing bad breath and leading to more tooth decay, cavities, gingivitis and more.
3. Increased risk for heart disease
Have you thought that not drinking enough water can increase your risk for heart disease? Perhaps not, but the evidence is there. When we don’t drink enough H2O, the blood vessels of our heart are smaller in diameter than optimal, making the heart work harder to send blood throughout the body. In turn, we may get higher blood pressure (leading to hypertension) and heart rate, which heightens the risks for blood clots, stroke and palpitations.
A 2016 study in the European Journal of Nutrition found that even mild dehydration has similar harmful impact on your heart as smoking.
4. Slower metabolism and weight gain
Multiple studies show that dehydration can “slow the body’s ability to burn calories.” In contrast, a study from The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism showed that drinking more water—even if not at optimal levels—can boost your metabolism by 30 percent.
Interestingly, the part of your brain telling you your thirsty is the same as that part signaling that you’re hungry. As a result, when you’re dehydrated, you may actually be overeating and gaining weight, when your body is actually telling you that you need more H2O.
These are just a few of the reasons you ought to be drinking more water. Hopefully, you’ll agree on all the positive pluses once you see them on your own!
Note: The research studies and quoted material cited in this article are from ABC News Correspondent’s Dr. Jennifer Ashton’s recent book, The Self-Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier and Fitter—One Month at a Time.
Source/Credit for Photo Above: newyork.thecityatlas.org