If you suffer from fatigue, confusion, memory loss, dizziness, dry and wrinkled skin, brittle hair and nails, cold fingers and toes, constipation, eczema, headaches, urinary tract infections, and muscle pains, this suggests you may be dehydrated.
If you lack water, your body will try to get moisture from any liquid source in your system. It will automatically tap your blood, cell fluid, intra-cellular fluid, and even your stools and urine. When you're literally draining yourself, you're impacting your physical and mental health and speeding up the aging process.
Below are 7 reasons to boost your water intake:
1. Better Digestion
If you're spending a lot of time and effort on the toilet, you could probably use a glass or two of pure water. The body knows that the vital organs need essential nutrients more than the rest of your body. If you're dehydrated, your body will take what’s available. Hence constipation. Water-depleted stools are hard to pass and can be there for days! Your stomach will then feel bloated with the overgrowth of fermenting bacteria and yeast.
2. You'll stay sharp.
If you prefer being upbeat and focused, you need to drink water. If you’re feeling confused and forgetful, try drinking more water before going to see the doctor.
3.Your Face Tells All
If you struggle with a puffy face and sunken eyes with dark circles, you're being warned that your kidneys are in distress. You are not drinking enough water. The kidneys filter toxins, salts, and water from the bloodstream. If the body is dehydrated, the kidneys can’t function properly. If the kidneys are overloaded, this will show in your face.
4. Younger Looking Skin
Dry and wrinkled skin occurs for two reasons: Water retention and a lack of subcutaneous fat. If you want to boost your natural fillers and look more youthful, with glowing skin, do three things:
- Splash cold water on your face several times every morning
- Gently pat your skin dry
- Drink a big glass of chilled water on an empty stomach.
Make sure that you drink more than 2 liters of water during the day, and eat healthy fats everyday! Some healthy fats are pure and unprocessed plant oils from foods like organic flax seeds, butter from grass-fed sources, and organic coconut oil. Fat binds the water to the dermis skin layer and functions as a natural filler.
5. Lower Body Fat
This will probably surprise you, but being dehydrated can make you gain weight! The body will use all other fluids available when it’s dehydrated. By pulling water out of the bloodstream, excess glucose will remain until it reaches the liver, where it's supposed to be stored as glycogen for later use.
6. Eat Less
Pure water acts as an appetite suppressant. When feeling hungry, drink a big glass of water before you eat anything.
7. Help Your Body Get the Job Done
There’s a reason why water is called the source of life - our blood is 90% water. The bloodstream provides your cells and organs with oxygen and nutrients, and takes away any waste products. As you can see, blood is essential and important. The body will tap the water from cells and blood if needed to help counter dehydration. The blood will become thicker, increasing the risk of clotting, and making it harder to pump it through the system. This can have a serious impact on blood pressure and heart disease. Lack of water is also linked to headaches, pain and tension in muscles and joints. It even causes stomach aches and heartburn.
Bottom line - How much water do you need?
In general, you need about 2 Liters of pure water a day. You might need more if you live in a warm or dry climate, as well as if you exercise often. You will also need more water if you are pregnant, or breastfeeding. Also take into account the diuretic effects of coffee, tea, alcohol, and sodas, as well as salty foods.
