Water is essential for the proper functioning of the human body. It helps to regulate body temperature, transport nutrients, and remove waste. Without water, our bodies would not be able to function properly. Yet, many people underestimate the importance of staying hydrated and may go hours or even days without drinking water. But what happens to your body when you stop drinking water?
Dehydration is the most obvious consequence of not drinking enough water. Mild dehydration can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and dry mouth. More severe dehydration can lead to rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, and even fainting. Without enough water, your body cannot function properly, and your organs may not receive the necessary nutrients and oxygen they need to function optimally.
Read on to find out more about what can happen if you don't drink enough water. Fortunately, adding more water to your diet might be easier than you think. It just might take a conscious effort at first.
1. You gain water weight.
It sounds counterintuitive, but skimping on drinking water
can actually cause water retention and temporary weight gain. "When
you're not drinking enough [water], your body holds every drop to
prevent severe dehydration," says Abbey Sharp, RD.
2. Your energy drops.
Feeling groggy? Skip the caffeine and drink water instead.
"Yes, you should drink plenty of water during the day to stay hydrated.
In fact, even slight dehydration can significantly drain your energy
levels," Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE explains.
3. You lose focus.
The fundamental element of life is also essential to finding
great ideas. Made of 80 percent water, your brain's abilities and
functions seriously depend on it. Even slight dehydration impairs its
abilities, making any eurekas a challenge. A study in the journal
Nutrients found that drinking water can prevent memory and attention
decline.
4. Your risk of stroke increases.
Not only can dehydration make you take longer for you to
recover from a stroke, but it can actually make it worse, according to a
study in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. Not a huge fan of straight,
nothing-added water? Try a fruity detox water to hydrate you while
giving you an extra squeeze of citrus and other bloat-busters.
5. You get crankier.
Feeling cranky? Forgoing H2O may be the worst thing you
could do. Two studies from the University of Connecticut put men and
women through a series of cognitive tests and found that even being
mildly dehydrated affected their moods and caused fatigue and headaches.
6. You feel hungrier.
It's very common to confuse hunger with dehydration. If your
stomach is growling, your best bet is to drink some water. "Try
drinking water and waiting 20 minutes before grabbing that snack you've
been eyeing," says nutritionist Amy Shapiro, MS, RD. She also urges
replacing sugary drinks like soda, juices, or sports drinks with water.
7. Your metabolism tanks.
Nixing water from your diet can seriously derail your weight
loss plans, proven by a study from The Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology and Metabolism. After drinking approximately 17 ounces of
water (about two tall glasses), participants' metabolic rates increased
by 30 percent. The researchers estimate that increasing water intake by
1.5 liters a day (about six cups) would burn an extra 17,400 calories
over the course of the year—a weight loss of approximately five pounds!
8. You get headaches.
Before you reach for the Tylenol, try chugging water when
your head hurts. The previous study we just mentioned found dehydration
can also lead to headaches.
9. Your skin worsens.
Water helps to plump up your skin, so you should be able to
imagine what dehydration will do. When you don't drink enough water, the
collagen begins to crack and bind together, causing fine lines and
wrinkles to get more noticed. We rely on water to keep our insides
sufficiently hydrated, too. So when you ditch it, expect your mouth,
skin, and everything else to feel drier than normal.
