6 things that happen to your body when you don’t drink enough water
Daily you should be consuming 8-10 glasses of water a day or more. Joan Koelemay a dietitian for the Beverage Institute says, "Think of water as a nutrient your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and foods. All of these are essential daily to replace the large amounts of water lost each day." Your body is constantly flushing out water from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, so you must be constantly replenishing your body. When your water intake doesn’t equal your output, you can become dehydrated.
Here are 6 important things that happen to your body when your body doesn’t receive an adequate amount of water:
1. Higher health risks. Higher water intake has been linked to decreased chances of kidney stones, urinary and colon cancer, and heart attacks. If you don’t drink enough water daily you stand the chance of having a higher health risk for problems in the future.
2. Slower metabolism. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight-loss strategy. Water doesn’t make you shed off pounds but substituting it for a higher calorie beverage can certainly help. Dr. Howard Murad also found that a person’s basal metabolic rate (the calories burned while at rest) speeds as the body becomes more positively hydrated and efficient. Basically, water can help control your calories burned.
3. Backed up. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation. When you don't get enough fluid, the colon pulls water from stools to maintain hydration -- and the result is constipation. "Adequate fluid and fiber is the perfect combination because the fluid pumps up the fiber and acts like a broom to keep your bowel functioning properly," says Koelemay. Therefore, water helps you maintain normal bowel function.
4. You eat more. A 2010 study confirmed that those who drank two 8 ounce glasses of water before each meal consumed 75-90 fewer calories while eating. Over three months, water-drinkers lost an average of five pounds more than the dieters who were parched. Water does fill you up, even though it’s a clear liquid it’s still something taking up space and competing with your appetite. When you’re not drinking enough water your stomach is empty and leaves open the idea of overeating.
5. You look more wrinkled. Your skin contains plenty of water and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. Dr. Kenneth Ellner a dermatologist says, "Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration," he says. "But once you are adequately hydrated, the kidneys take over and excrete excess fluids." Water plumps your skin, fill in fine lines and wrinkles, and brightens a dull complexion. Drinking water helps keep your skin looking young and refreshed.
6. You're in a bad mood. A study was done in 2009 divided men and women into two groups and had them engage in 60 to 75 minutes of high-impact aerobic exercise. One group didn’t drink enough water, the other group was properly hydrated. The dehydrated group reported feeling fatigued, confused, angry, depressed, tense, and frustrated. While the data suggested dehydration has some negative influence on cognition, it seems “mood may be more sensitive to fluid balance,” according to the study.
5 Tips to Help You Drink More
If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:
Have a beverage with every snack and meal
Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods, so don’t always think you have to drink your water
Keep a bottle of water or thermos with you in your car, at your desk, on your nightstand, or in your bag
Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you're watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water