9 Reasons Why You Should Always Stay Hydrated

The human body needs water to perform a multitude of body functions. At any given point of time, if our body contains less than the required amount of water, then it means that we are suffering from dehydration.

Dehydration can be circumstantial or chronic.

Circumstantial dehydration is caused by various reasons such as-

• When a person is not consuming enough liquids
• When a person gets exposed to extremely high temperatures
• When a person engages in prolonged physical activity.

Circumstantial dehydration can be cured easily by drinking enough water and getting plenty of rest. In some cases, IV fluids are administered to the person suffering from dehydration.

Chronic dehydration is the condition wherein a person suffers from dehydration for a long period of time. This type of dehydration may occur even if a person consumes the required amount of water everyday.

It has been suggested that for a person to stay well-hydrated, between two to three litres of water must be consumed everyday. If it seems like too much water, then you can include other fluids you prefer in the daily-count.

However, it is best to avoid sugary drinks and too much caffeine as both these things cause dehydration. If you’re drinking a lot of juices, coffees and cold drinks but very little water, you might still suffer from dehydration.

In this blog, we’ve stated nine reasons why you should always stay well-hydrated. Those reasons are-

1. For proper brain function.

When a person is suffering from dehydration, even if it's mild, it still affects a person’s mood, memory and concentration.

Even just 1%-3% of water loss in the body can cause headache, mental fatigue and anxiety.

Basically, dehydration hinders the overall functioning of the brain.

2. To replenish energy.

Lack of fluids in the body not only causes mental fatigue, it causes physical fatigue as well.

If you’re feeling exhausted after carrying out even simple tasks, then it might mean that you are dehydrated.

Don’t panic. All you need to do is drink more fluids. Water is often the best type of liquid to treat mild dehydration.

3. For washing away toxins.

Every single day, toxins from the food we eat and the air we breathe enter our body. It is very important for the body to get rid of these toxins.

One huge reason why we should stay hydrated is that water helps the liver and the kidneys while they try to filter out the toxins from our body.

Basically, water washes away the toxins and keeps our body clean. Add a splash of lemon juice to make it more potent.

4. Supports cardiovascular health.

Dehydration makes a person’s heart work harder. It puts extra strain on the heart. That is never a good thing.  

A heart that works under strain for a long period ends up having different heart conditions. It can even cause a heart attack.

If you keep drinking the required amount of water everyday, you reduce the risk of developing severe heart ailments.

5. Supports joint and muscle functions.

Have you ever had a muscle cramp so bad that it felt like you were being tortured mercilessly? Dehydration causes that.

When it comes to the joints and muscles in our body working smoothly, water is an essential element.

When there’s a lack of fluids in the body, the muscles and joints tend to tense up. And it can be very painful.

6. Assists in healing.

When the human body is trying to fight off various ailments, water is an important part of that fight.

Studies have shown that staying hydrated while suffering from a disease helps in faster recovery.

Consuming enough liquids help in fighting illnesses such as the flu, headaches, seizures, kidney stones, etc.

7. Regulates body temperature.

Having enough fluids in your body is crucial to maintaining an appropriate body temperature.

The body loses water when the weather is too hot and also during physical activity.

Sweat might cool down your body but it also causes dehydration. You need to drink more water and keep yourself hydrated to replace the fluids you lose.

8. Improves sleep-quality.

When a person is constantly dehydrated, the production of amino acids in their body gets affected.

Amino acids are incredibly important for the proper production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. And hence, you end up not getting the amount of sleep you need.

If you want to improve your sleep patterns, then make sure that you are consuming the required amount of water in order for you to stay well-hydrated.

9. Helps relieve constipation.

One of the biggest reasons why you should stay hydrated is that it alleviates constipation.

Lack of water in the body may cause constipation. And constipation may lead to numerous other health complications.

Consuming mineral water rich in sodium and magnesium improves the frequency and consistency of bowel movements. Thus, helping relieve constipation.    

People tend to drink enough water during the summer season when temperatures are high and they get thirsty frequently. But during the winter season, people don’t get thirsty that often.            

However, your body’s physiological need for a specific amount of water doesn’t change. This is why it is important to make sure that you consume plenty of liquids during winter as well.

If you find that hard to do, then you can go through these tips to keep yourself hydrated during winter.