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Why Staying Hydrated Might Be Key to Longevity and Disease-free Life

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By Augustine Mbam - - 5 Mins Read
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A new study shows that staying hydrated is very important for those who want to live a disease-free life. Older adults who are properly hydrated have more chances of living longer and without much illness than those who are dehydrated.    According to Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher from the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, staying hydrated helps to slow down aging among adults.    "Staying well-hydrated may slow down aging, prevent or delay the development of chronic diseases, and therefore prolong disease-free life. The best way for people to keep well-hydrated is to be aware of the amount of fluids they drink without engaging in intensive sports activities or [spending] a long time in a hot environment," Dmitrieva said.    However, there are questions about ‘how much water should I be drinking a day?’. Expert opinions show a recommendation of 2 to 3 liters of fluid daily. Going into more detail, it means that women should have 6 to 9 cups of fluids like water daily, while men need around 8 to 12 cups.    "Our bodies work hard to maintain a healthy fluid balance, which includes keeping serum sodium levels [blood salt levels]) tightly regulated. Triggering thirst is one way the body signals us that we need to consume more water. Drinking too much or too little water can result in serious physiological disturbances in the body’s fluid balance," Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at NYU Langone Health in New York City, added to the topic. 

Benefits of Staying Hydrated 

The numerous pieces of information and research put forward by experts show that water is important for the human body. 
  • Prevent and Treats Headaches 

Although this is something that most people overlook, water serves the crucial purpose of preventing and stopping headaches [caption id="attachment_17472" align="aligncenter" width="960"]morning headaches A man having a headache (Pixabay)[/caption]   Dehydration causes migraine and headaches, and the major way to stop it is by drinking enough water at intervals. But you may ask, how much water should I be drinking a day? A study shows that 50.7 ounces (1.5 liters) of water daily helps them not get headaches or reduce migraines. 
  • Help Treat Kidney Issues 

Although all body parts are important, the kidney seemingly serves many more functions than most. You can survive without having a hand or leg, but you can't say the same when you don't have a kidney.   Pixabay   Not taking enough water leads to a kidney disease known as kidney stones; this is a painful disease and can sometimes lead to death. Study shows that those who take enough water have more chances of not contracting the disease. 
  • It helps to Lose Weight 

Instead of taking crappy soft drinks, it would do you more good to take enough water whenever you get the urge to take soft drinks. A combination of soft drinks and other junk foods can lead one to add more weight than needed. [caption id="attachment_17474" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]how to lose weight fast Losing weight ({Pixabay)[/caption] However, drinking enough daily water helps reduce and balance one's weight. One of the benefits of drinking water is that it gets all your organs to work and helps optimize your body weight. Being overweight is not a great idea and can lead to other illnesses like obesity and heart issues. 
  • Increase Brain Function

One of the biggest benefits of drinking water is that it helps the brain and improves bodily functions. Professional studies show that the amount of water highly influences the brain in the body; taking press water might bring problems.   Surely, you won't want to have problems with your brain as it can directly lead to death. Being hydrated helps the brain to keep on functioning in the right manner. If someone needs to concentrate while doing something, taking water at intervals will help them achieve their aim.    On the other hand, being dehydrated can cause many problems for the brain, sometimes leading to memory loss and lack of concentration while working or reading. 
  • Prevents Constipation 

If you have experienced constipation in the past, you would know how painful and frustrating it can be for someone. Constipation comes when the stomach experiences issues with bowel movements. [caption id="attachment_17473" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]Having constipation A man having constipation (Pixabay)[/caption]   Taking water and other healthy fluids are the main recommendations most health professionals give. This is one of the benefits of drinking water, which most people often underrate. Not drinking enough water before and after eating can cause painful problems with your bowel movement, which you surely don't want to experience.
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