Doctors at the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend that men drink 15.5 cups of water, about 124 ounces of water daily while women should drink 11.5 or 92 ounces daily. You must drink even more if you live in a warm climate or exercise vigorously. Understanding the effects of hydration on your body can help you make getting enough water a priority.
Water Helps Maintain Body Temperature
Water does an outstanding job of absorbing and transferring heat, so it helps your body maintain the proper body temperature. Your blood is made up of about 92% water, and it needs to move heat properly from your extremities to your body’s organs, where the heat is needed most. Water is also essential for helping your body produce sweat that cools you off when you get too hot. Furthermore, water helps the lungs expel heat from your body as water vapor.
Water Helps You Move Easier
Water is essential for cushioning joints, making it easier for your body to move. Synovial fluid containing water surrounds each joint and cartilage in your body, acting as a sponge. When there is enough fluid, then it cushions your body parts and makes it easier for you to move. While this can help reduce joint inflammation, it is also vital for mental health. When you are not hurting, it is easier to get out and exercise, releasing dopamine in your body that instantly lifts your mood. Furthermore, when your body has enough synovial fluid, your brain will also work better.
Water Helps With Serotonin Production
If you are feeling depressed, check the amount of water you drink. Water interacts with other hormones in your body to produce serotonin. When there is enough serotonin in your body, you are less likely to feel depressed. You are also more likely to get a great night’s sleep, which can be essential to boosting your mood. It also helps you digest food properly, so you do not have sugar highs and lows throughout the day.
If you are drinking enough water but feel it does not seem to be helping with your mood, reach out to us. We would love to help you improve your well-being.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html
https://sciencing.com/water-stabilize-temperature-4574008.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood#:~:text=The%20blood%20plasma%20volume%20totals,trace%20amounts%20of%20other%20materials.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin#:~:text=Serotonin%20is%20a%20chemical%20that,blood%20clotting%20and%20sexual%20desire.
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