Am I Drinking Enough Water? Effects and Symptoms of Dehydration

By Patrick Banks

Posted 8 years agoHEALTH

Effects of Dehydration

During the winter months, it can be easy to deprive our bodies of a sufficient amount of water. The cold temperatures find us reaching for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate over a glass of h20. Although you might not feel thirsty, your body simply needs water to function. After all, the average human body is made up over 75% water, so it’s not hard to see why it’s so vital!

A low consumption of water is dangerous, and it could be making you ill. Suffer with any of the following? Then a lack of water could just be the cause…

Am I Drinking Enough Water?Effects of Dehydration On Your Body

Kidney Issues

Do you find that you’re prone to kidney infections or feel that your kidneys hurt? This could be due to a lack of water. Our bodies need water to flush out toxins and waste, without this, bacteria will thrive which can often result in a nasty, and painful infection.

Headaches

A major side effect of dehydration is frequent headaches. Our brains are over three-quarters water, this is what stops it from knocking against our skull. When the fluid sack around our brains depletes, your brain can then push up against your skull – and this is what can cause a headache. Ouch.

Joint Pain

If you find yourself suffering from regular pain in your joints, this could be caused by severe dehydration. Our cartilage in our joints is mostly made up of water, so when your body becomes dehydrated in can cause the cartilage to become weaker and cause pain.

Dry Skin

One of the keys to good skin is water! You can use all the fancy skin creams in the world, but if you’re dehydrated your skin won’t look as healthy and glowing as it could! Water eliminates toxins in our body which help to maintain a healthy looking skin. Skin disorders such as psoriasis can actually be down to severe dehydration. Not only will you benefit from healthier looking skin, it can also help to prevent premature wrinkling too.

Tiredness

Do you find yourself yawning on a regular basis, and practically falling asleep at your desk? Fatigue is a major side effect of dehydration and can cause extreme tiredness, even if you find yourself getting a decent amount of sleep!

Lack of Urination

If you find that you’re rarely passing fluids, or there is something up with your urine then this is more often than not, down to dehydration. If your urine has a funny colour or strong smell then this is a sign that your kidneys are working overtime!

Weakness

If you’re severely dehydrated then your body will begin to feel weak due to your brain and other body organs receiving less blood flow. This is when dehydration can get seriously dangerous. So ensure you up your fluid intake immediately and seek a doctor if necessary.

With all of the above points in mind, it’s clear to see that ensuring your body remains hydrated is vital for overall health and happiness. If you’re struggling to drink your recommended daily intake of water then there are some methods and tips which might just help you along the way…

How to make sure that you drink enough water?

1. Buy a Bottle

It sounds simple but buying a sports bottle will enable you to carry water for on-the-go and stop you from conveniently picking up a fizzy drink whilst you’re out and about! You can also buy bottles such as the Bobbl from various outlets which contain a water filter to make your water even healthier!

Where you get your water from matters. Watch this short documentary before it’s too late:

2. Download an App

Well, they do say there’s an app for everything these days! Try downloading an app such as ‘Waterlogged’ which can help to track your daily water intake, tell you how much water you should be drinking and even give you a gentle nudge when it’s time to top up with more fluids! Pretty handy, huh?

3. Make it Sparkling

If you simply can’t draw yourself away from those fizzy bubbles then why not try out a sparkling water instead? You might find it tastier than still water.

4. Infuse It with Fruit

If you don’t enjoy the taste of water then try and make it tastier by enthusing it with your favourite fruit! Use slices of lemon, lime or even strawberries to add a bit of pizazz to your beverage! As well as improving taste, lemon water can actually improve your health!

5. Use a Straw

So if you really, REALLY don’t enjoy drinking water, then try using a straw. It makes you drink much quicker and you tend to take in more fluids this way, but you might want to leave the fruit out if you’re going to give this one a go.

6. Make Ice Cubes

Who doesn’t enjoy a refreshing drink complete with ice cubes? Why not try and make some fruity ice cubes to add to your glass of water to make it perfectly chilled, fruity and healthier! They’re so quick and easy to make, plus it can be a real life saver in the heat of summer.

Hopefully, this will give you some inspiration if you currently struggle to drink as much water as you ideally should. We’re all guilty of often choosing the coke in a restaurant over still water but by adding it into your daily routine (and sticking to it) you will see so many great improvements to your overall health. Say goodbye to fatigue, headaches and dry skin and hello to a happier, healthier you!

How Water Plays an Important Role in Your Diet

The problem is that some folks don’t understand the role water plays in their bodies and how important their source of water is. The following will tell you all about water, like if you should drink spring water or if you can you drink distilled water among other things.

What Role Does Water Play in the Body?

Okay, you know the body can’t survive long without water, but you may be wondering why this is the case. The body is composed of about 60 percent water. Many of the bodily fluids your body needs to function depend on moisture, such as your saliva, nutrient transportation, protein transportation, and your digestion, just to name a few things.

Another thing to point out about water is that it helps maintain your weight. The reason is simply that water contains no calories. No one is saying you don’t need calories, but you shouldn’t overload your body with calories every day.

Most people make the mistake of consuming too many calories with their food choices and drinking sodas or other calorie-rich drinks. The average person is consuming more than 3,600 calories per day when a person shouldn’t have more than 2,000 calories per day.

Water also helps energize your muscles. The reality is that every cell in your body depends on having a sufficient amount of water to function properly. If you fail to give your body the hydration it needs, the cells within the body will shrivel up. This is something you don’t want because it can make you feel fatigued.

A regular person has a lot to do throughout the day, like go to school, work, exercise, take care of their kids, or just have a little fun after work. These are things you’ll have trouble doing if you start to feel fatigued early in the day because you haven’t been consuming enough water.

Water is also pretty important for your skin. You might not think so, but your skin contains a lot of water. For one, when your skin cells get damaged, water is needed for the repair process. Your body transports minerals and vitamins that your skin might need to repair itself.

It should also be pointed out that a lack of moisture can cause you to develop dry skin. This is something you do not want because dry skin can lead to the development of lines or wrinkles. If you are developing these obvious signs of aging, it’s happening prematurely. Now, if you drink a lot of water, it won’t eliminate any lines that have appeared, but it can reduce the chances of you developing more.

Drinking enough water also does wonders for your kidneys in a number of ways. For one, it makes your kidneys work more effectively since you have enough water to help remove toxins.

When you drink enough water, you’ll see that your urine is clean, virtually odorless, and has a light color. If you notice that your urine is dark and has a strong odor, then your kidneys aren’t getting enough water to remove toxins. A person that continues to deprive their kidneys of water will more likely develop kidney stones, and no one wants that.

It should be pointed out that water is also important for your bowel movements. A person who does not drink enough water might suffer from constipation. This happens because the body is thirsty for water and decides that your stool doesn’t need the water it contains as much as your body does.

The colon ends up pulling water from the waste that is forming or has formed already. You end up with constipation and have a really painful experience when you finally go to the restroom. Keep in mind that chronic constipation can end up causing some internal damage, which is yet another reason to ensure that you drink as much water as possible.

Is All Water the Same?

Before you rush to the store to buy all the water you can find, you are going to have to learn more about the choices you have out there. The truth is that all water is not the same, and you need to be aware of some of the differences.

Water may be inorganic, but it contains minerals that are essential for the body. The best way to consume water is to do so in its natural form, but most people don’t have access to a free-flowing spring near their home or in their backyard. Even if you did, most raw spring water hasn’t been tested, and big businesses continue to contaminate water sources throughout the nation. This should make you wonder if it is even safe to drink spring water that hasn’t been thoroughly filtered.

The drinking water sold in stores comes in many forms, and one of the most popular is distilled water. If you read the label, the company selling this water may tell you that it is great to drink. This may be true if you need the water for certain purposes, but the problem is that it is too pure. Distilled water has been processed so much that it’s eliminated all the minerals and vitamins that your body is supposed to get from water.

Drinking water without minerals and vitamins doesn’t help your body do the things it should. It doesn’t help the body with waste management, and it doesn’t help the body replenish itself. Furthermore, this type of water creates an imbalance inside the body since there won’t be any electrolytes, and mineral-less water absorbs other compounds like carbon dioxide. This imbalance can be quite detrimental to the body given enough time since it’s eventually going to make your body too acidic.

An acidic body is going to have a hard time absorbing nutrients from food and will get tired quickly. A body in this state may suffer from things like headaches and muscle cramps.

There is always spring water, and that may be one of your best choices, but buying it all the time can get a little expensive. Furthermore, water that is sitting in a plastic bottle may be contaminated with foreign compounds that you don’t want to be drinking.

Sure, some water companies offer customers BPA-free containers, which can make you feel a little better about choosing their brands, but these usually come at a cost. Other companies go so far as to offer glass bottles instead of plastic to protect the water you may buy, but these options are also pretty expensive. If you are starting to feel like you are running out of options, do not fret because you still have another option: filtered water.

A high-quality home water filter is going to help remove those toxins that can be in the water without removing any of the minerals and vitamins you need. You won’t have to worry about purchasing water from the store every week, which can take a large bite out of your wallet. If you consider the total cost, such as gas, price of water, and your time, you will see that buying a good filter is wise. There is no need to worry about shortages since stores can run out of the water brand you’ve come to trust.

You are also going to be taking a big step towards eco-friendliness. Most people want to help the earth in any way they can. You won’t have to contribute more waste on this earth. Yes, glass and plastic are recyclable materials, but making sure you recycle isn’t always easy. There are some regions of the country where recycling is nearly impossible. Keep in mind that to properly recycle bottles they have to be extremely clean and free of adhesive materials, and most people don’t remove stickers from their recyclables because it can be time-consuming.

Now, a home water filter can be installed or you can purchase a portable one. A smart homeowner should probably consider purchasing a portable water filter to make it easier to move just in case you need to use it for an event.

It should be pointed out that filtering only the toxins is also going to help ensure that the water you consume tastes as it should. Some people don’t know that water tastes refreshing because it contains minerals and vitamins that distilled water does not contain. Having a filtering system that allows you to drink refreshing water at home helps you drink more water throughout the day. There aren’t many people out there who are going to be excited about drinking tasteless water.

Hopefully, some of this information helps you understand water a little more and why it’s so important that you take your water consumption seriously. A portable water filter may seem like a big purchase, but what you are really doing is investing in a better lifestyle and health of everyone in your household.


Benefits and Safe Cleaning Process of a Water Cooler for your Home

A water cooler is no longer office icons, but a relevant home appliance. Today many homeowners consider water coolers as a basic household item. Amazingly, the appliance encourages everyone to drink more water compared to drinking for the water tap.

It is a fast way to get cold drinking water on a hot day and convenient for everyone, especially kids. Water coolers are a great way to ensure you’re hydrated and have cool, fresh water every time. The water cooler machine keeps the water cool or hot through a mechanical refrigeration process giving the best results for both home and offices. 

The water coolers have brought new revolutions as they offer fresh and accessible water for homes.  Parents feel safe while their children drink fresh and clean water. This has pushed many families to buy water coolers for home to keep everyone hydrated and healthy. Investing in a water cooler has loads of benefits attached.

Benefits of a water coolers

  • Encourages healthy drinking of water in your household

Scientifically you’re required to take a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day.  Which is a hard task for many due to the busy daily schedules? Water is never a consideration unless on a hot day or from a morning run. However, water coolers are changing the norm. The presence of a cooler is encouraging everyone to keep drinking water.

Kids enjoy the fact of pressing and water drips down; they tend to drink more, which keeps them healthy and hydrated.  There is a tendency of drinking something if it tastes and smells nice, cooler water is hygienic and tasty encouraging adults both in the office and home to have a couple of water glasses per day.  

  • Portable

water coolers are well-designed with a considerable weight; it easy to move around; also, they are firm not to trip off.  The appliance doesn’t require any technical team to install the cooler it simply means plugging.

  • Healthy for family 

Tap water is always exposed to chlorine, bacteria, and other contaminations that get into the tap and affect the water. The water cooler keeps the water clean and fresh with no bad taste or smell; this makes it easy to take more water and to remain healthy.

  • Environment friendly

Besides water cooler providing clean, fresh, and safe water, they play a big role in the environment. Coolers are not just limited to home or office use by saves the whole plane. The appliance uses on the big bottle that stands in for many small bottles you could have bought and throw away. It’s an eco-friendly appliance which also saves you from buying dozens of bottles. 

Cleaning water cooler

Though water coolers play a significant role in everyone’s life, they also require maintenance practices to continue providing healthy, tasty water. Cleaning is the best way to prolong the water cooler’s life span; this can often be as you change the bottled water. The cleaning process doesn’t require the professionalism of particular products.  

One can use readily available products such as water, vinegar, and your time. The vinegar/bleach helps remove stubborn stains, bacteria, and mold in the water cooler. Harmful bacteria causing infections easily grow on the cooler if not well cleaned or not cleaned at all. Ensure to clean every time you change the bottle after two months to keep the water safe for drinking.

How to clean a water cooler?

Cleaning requires your times, water and vinegar with this equipment let’s get to the cleaning part. 

Cleaning solution

  • Vinegar

First, add 1quart of white vinegar to a bucket with 3 quarts of warm water. You can also add two spoons of lemon juice to put-off vinegar scent. 

  • Bleach 

One tablespoon of chlorine bleach, add it to one gallon of water, be careful with the bleach not to spill on the floor or clothes.  

Cleaning a top-loading water cooler

Cleaning a top-loading water cooler is effective while the bottle is empty and needs replacement. Use either vinegar or bleach to disinfect the cooler. 

  • Unplug the water cooler from power. 

This the first step and crucial in the cleaning process since you’re dealing with water and electricity. Ensure to unplug the cooler to avoid electrical shock; it also helps you move the water cooler to a suitable cleaning area without the code limitations.

  • Remove the water bottle.

Carefully remove the bottle and inspect the areas where the bottleneck meets the cooler. Check for mold buildups, use a sponge soaked in the cleaning solution, and wipe the whole area. Allow the cleaning solution to sit for a few minutes then wipe to avoid damaging the surface. You can scrub off stubborn stains with water and baking soda. Ensure the surface is totally clean since it the first point the bottle meets the cooler. 

  • Thoroughly clean the water guard.

It the crucial part that punctures the bottle when inserted on the water cooler. The part is removable wash it with the cleaning solution then rinse with running water from the tap. Wipe it dry and check for any odd stains, repeat the process in case of leftovers.

  • Clean the drip guard

A drip guard in the water cooler is the part that holds the cup. Remove the guard, wash it with the disinfectant, and then rinse it with running water. Due to the water that overflows while using the water cooler, the drip guard tends to have mildew and stains. Use baking soda and a brush to clean, rinse it thoroughly and wipe it dry. 

  • Rinse the tank

Rinse the tank with clean water to eliminate bacterial, ensure to close all the faucets. Fill the water again then drain it. Repeat the process if you’re using vinegar taste the water or smell to detect any bad odors. The tank has to be clean to ensure the water taste right, and no disinfectants are left, regular cleaning will ease cleaning the take over time.

  • Assembling the cooler. 

After cleaning, ensure all parts are dry, and no smell or stains are left. The parts should be properly rinsed to avoid the vinegar or bleach smell. This is done using running water and drying with a clean piece of cloth. They should be left in the open for some time then assembled back. Don’t place a new water bottle with checking the water quality if satisfied now use a new bottle and enjoy safe, clean water for you and your family.

About the author Patrick Banks

Patrick is a Berlin-based dating advisor, motivational speaker, a huge fitness and vegan diet enthusiast and the main editor at Wingman Magazine, specialised in men's health. His ultimate goal is to share with men around the world his passion for self-development and to help them to become the greatest version of themselves. He believes a healthy body and successful social interactions are two main keys to happiness.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.