Skip to main content

Health shots

Drinking water is the best way to quench thirst, but it does more than that. It is essential for our health, as it is a key ingredient in keeping our organs functioning properly. It helps in maintaining body temperature, removing waste or toxins and delivering nutrients to different body parts. That’s why we are repeatedly told to drink about eight glasses of water every day. If not plain water, you may be eating fruits or vegetables high in water content. You may be also having fluids such as coconut water or fruit juices. Does that mean you are drinking enough water? If you are not then you will spot the signs of dehydration. Similarly, there are ways to know if you are drinking enough water. We tell you how.

How much water should you drink in a day?

Determining the appropriate daily water intake is essential for maintaining optimal health. The amount varies based on individual factors, but a general guideline is to consume about 240 milliliters of water eight times a day, totaling approximately 1.9 liters, says dietitian Sethulekshmi. However, this serves as a baseline, and individual needs may differ.

A woman drinking water
Drinking enough water is essential for your health. Image courtesy: Adobe stock

Factors influencing water requirements include –

  • Weight
  • Physical activity
  • Climate
  • Overall health

What are the health benefits of drinking water?

There are many benefits of drinking water –

1. Maintaining body fluid balance

Water, constituting about 60 percent of the body, plays a vital role in bodily functions like digestion, circulation, nutrient transportation, and temperature regulation. Adequate hydration ensures the balance of essential bodily fluids, says the expert.

2. Controlling calories

Water serves as a calorie-free alternative to sugary beverages. Drinking water before meals can create a sense of fullness, potentially reducing overall calorie intake and supporting weight management.

3. Energising muscles

Proper fluid balance is crucial for muscle function. Dehydration can lead to muscle fatigue and diminished endurance during physical activities. Staying hydrated helps maintain muscle energy and performance.

4. Preserving skin health

The skin contains a significant amount of water, acting as a protective barrier against fluid loss. Adequate hydration helps keep the skin moisturised, maintaining elasticity and a healthy appearance.

5. Supporting normal bowel function

Hydration is essential for proper gastrointestinal function, says Sethulekshmi. It prevents constipation by ensuring the smooth flow of waste through the digestive tract. In dehydration, the colon extracts water from stools, leading to constipation.

6. Transporting waste products

Body fluids, primarily water, facilitate the transportation of waste products, including blood urea nitrogen, out of cells. Hydration supports the kidneys in excreting these waste products through urine.

What are the ways to know you are drinking enough water?

Headache is a sign of dehydration, says the expert. Inadequate water intake affects blood volume and cerebrospinal fluid, contributing to headaches. Also, persistent bad breath due to dehydration may indicate that you need to drink more water.

Here are signs to know you are hydrated –

1. Frequency of urination

Regular urination is a positive indicator of hydration, says Sethulekshmi. Dehydration may lead to infrequent urination as the body conserves water.

Woman drinking water
If you drink enough water, you will pee more frequently. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

 

2. Thirst sensation

Thirst serves as a natural mechanism signaling the need for fluid replenishment. Intensified thirst may indicate dehydration due to insufficient water intake or excessive fluid loss.

3. Skin and lip condition

Hydrated skin appears moist and elastic. Dry lips and skin can signal dehydration, indicating a lack of sufficient water to maintain skin health.

4. Energy level

Dehydration reduces blood volume, diminishing oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues. This can result in fatigue as the body’s energy production is hampered.

5. Urine colour

Monitoring urine colour provides insight into hydration status, says the expert. Pale yellow to straw-coloured urine suggests adequate hydration, while dark yellow or amber-coloured urine indicates dehydration and the need for increased fluid consumption.

Water is vital for health, but excessive consumption can lead to water poisoning or hyponatremia. This condition arises when there is an imbalance of water and sodium in the body. Overhydration causes cells, including brain cells, to swell, resulting in confusion, drowsiness, headaches, hypertension, and a low heart rate, says the expert.

So, strike a balance and avoid drinking more water than your body requires to maintain optimal health.

The post Drinking enough water? 5 ways to know if you are hydrated appeared first on Healthshots.



from | HealthShots https://ift.tt/HtBdcnj
via IFTTT
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Health shots

Cortisol face, a condition that can make your face look more rounded, and puffy, has been trending on TikTok. Many users of the platform are claiming that it is a prominent side effect of having high levels of cortisol or stress hormone in the body. To prove their point, TikTok users are showing their “cortisol face” along with an “after” photo of a less bloated face. When it comes to our body, cortisol has many functions. Mediating the stress response is one of its key functions. But is daily stress to be blamed for facial bloating or is it just a misconception? What is cortisol face? The literal meaning of the term “moon face” or “cortisol face” is the appearance of puffiness or rounding of facial features, shares dermatologist Dr Neha Khuraana . There is no medical diagnosis referred to as “cortisol face”. Rather it is just a symptom that involves physical changes in the facial features due to certain underlying health problems such as Cushing’s syndrome. It can cause weight gain ...
Read more

Health shots

Have you ever felt sick to your stomach which makes you throw up? If yes, you might have been feeling nauseous. Nausea is an unpleasant sensation that is often accompanied by vomiting. Nausea is not an illness, but a symptom. It can be a symptom of various medical conditions and is usually not risky. It can also be managed at home with simple home remedies. While seeking professional help is the best option, you can also try some home remedies for nausea that can help avoid puking. Plus, they are affordable and provide numerous benefits. What is nausea? Nausea is a vomiting sensation that causes discomfort and unease, accompanied by vomiting and even stomach cramps, as found in Medicine Plus Journal. Some people experience it when travelling long distances on the road and some even experience it due to allergic reactions to certain food groups. Also, when you are pregnant the nausea feeling can happen during your first trimester. Causes of nausea “When the downward moving wind prin...
Read more

Health shots

Sitting for long can hurt your back and affect your posture. That is why you should get up and walk around for a few minutes after every few hours. Stretching or doing standing yoga poses can also help to improve posture. If you choose to do standing yoga poses, you can enjoy more health benefits. Such yoga asanas can improve balance, and concentration while also strengthening the legs, core, and back muscles. Here’s a list of standing yoga poses for beginners as well as fitness enthusiasts. What is a standing yoga pose? Standing yoga poses form the foundation of many yoga practices, anchoring us firmly to the earth while inviting us to reach for the sky. They are a diverse range of postures that challenge our balance, flexibility, and focus, says yoga expert Dr Hansaji Yogendra . The Eagle pose promotes flexibility. Image courtesy: Freepik How to do standing yoga poses? Here are some of the standing yoga poses you can do at home or workplace – 1. Sthitaprarthasana or Standing ...
Read more