From brain fog to mood swings and erectile dysfunction these ten health issues suffered by millions of people in the UK could all be easily fixed with one simple lifestyle change, according to experts.
The fix for acne, chapped lips, dry skin, mood swings and even high blood pressure, could be as simple as drinking more water.
It’s thought as many as In the UK on one in ten GP consultations are now linked to the patient being dehydrated – a shocking statistic to support the theory.
This has led one water expert and qualified water sommelier who drinks at least four litres of the good stuff a day, to share the list of ten common health issues that can be caused by not drinking enough fluids, in a bid to educate people around the benefits of staying hydrated.
Doran Binder, AKA The Bearded Water Sommelier, has been conducting his own experiment into drinking water and after noticing multiple benefits from upping his intake to four litres of water day, has made this into a permanent lifestyle choice.
Doran said: “I would urge everyone to drink at least two litres a day, which is the WHO daily minimum, but if you want to see the true power of water up it in sensible amounts and see what happens – I’d love to hear how you get on!”
Ten Common Ailments That Could be Caused by Hydration
1. Headaches
Parts of the body will temporarily shrink or contract if not properly hydrated which in the case of the brain will cause it to pull away from the skill slightly. This is why headaches occur when enough water is not consumed.
2. Brain Fog
Prolonged dehydration causes brain cells to shrink in size and mass. Lack of mental clarity, sometimes referred to as ‘brain fog’ can occur with just a 2% drop in water.
3. Acne / Chapped Lips / Dry Skin
Acne caused by dehydration often appears on the forehead and around your ears, so if you’re finding that your breakouts appear in this area, try cutting back on dehydrating drinks like caffeine and alcohol alongside upping your water intake.
Drinking less water can suck the moisture out of your skin and lips. If you’re dehydrated, you’re likely to have wrinkled and dull skin along with chapped lips.
4. Mood Swings
According to scientists in Connecticut, ‘even mild dehydration can alter a person’s mood, energy levels and cognitive function. They also found that alterations in mood were worse in women who were thirsty.
5. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension is common in those who are dehydrated. Lack of water stimulates the production of chemicals that constrict blood vessels which in turn causes the blood pressure to rise.
6. Airways / Difficulty Breathing / Allergies
When dehydrated, airways are restricted by the body in an effort to minimize water loss. This can make asthma and allergies worse. Studies have also shown that when dehydrated the body produces higher histamine levels which can drive/worsen allergies.
7. Sexual performance
Deyhydration can result in sexual dysfunction because a low volume of red blood cells and plasma prevents the corpus cavernosum (chambers inside the penis) from getting enough oxygen and nutrient-rich blood necessary to maintain an erection.
8. Weight gain / obesity
Drinking water regularly stimulates the metabolism, boosting your body’s ability to burn fat and lose weight. The body sometimes confuses the messages for hunger and thirst causes some people to reach for a snack
9. Sore joints
Dehydration pulls fluid out of your tissues, which causes overall body aches and pains. One of the easiest ways to reduce pain is to increase the amount of water you drink daily.
10. Bowel movements / regularity
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of chronic constipation. If you don’t have enough water in your body already, the large intestine soaks up water from your food waste. As you can imagine that’s a much less healthy way to hydrate than drinking a clean, clear glass of water.
Doran Binder, owner of Crag Spring Water (https://www.cragspringwater.co.uk), further commented:
“With dehydration being recognised as a worldwide issue, and the rise in statistics not only being seen in adults, but children – the impact on our physical appearance and health is palpable.
“We have not only conducted in-depth research into every physical impact on the body and health of a human being, but I have also undertaken my own experiment in which I have upped my daily intake from two litres a day to four – the results have been life changing!”
“In my experience every part of my life has improved and my advice is that people should not rely on thirst as a signal of when and how much water to drink, by that point you are already dehydrated.
“How to avoid some of these common health issues is really simple, drink water and lots of it.”
