top reasons why clean water is ESSENTIAL to everyday life | Sustainable Earth

By Karisa Boyce

​Water keeps everything inside our bodies moving. So, even if we are getting enough exercise, we still need to make sure we meet our basic needs. Without enough water, our blood thickens, which means our cells don’t receive the nutrients they need to function well.

We all know that water is important for our health. “Drink more water,” we remind ourselves when we have a headache on a hot day. But sometimes we forget to listen. Our busy lives can keep us from taking care of the essentials, just as it can separate us from the environment that we live and breathe in every day.

Insufficient water can affect our bodies, our minds, and put as at risk for serious health problems. Read over the next few sections to find out how not drinking enough water every day affects us:

"Worms will not eat living wood where the vital sap is flowing; rust will not hinder the opening of a gate when the hinges are used each day. Movement gives health and life. Stagnation brings disease and death.
​-Chinese Medicine proverb

​How does dehydration affect our minds?

Besides the headaches we already mentioned, not drinking plenty of water can impede upon our memory and concentration. Without proper blood flow delivering oxygen to our brains, our memories can suffer. This lack of oxygen can also cause dizziness, vertigo, and lightheadedness.

Without giving our bodies what we need, we also tend to get irritated or moody. So, next time you have a mood swing ask yourself if it could be that you’re not getting enough of the liquid good stuff.

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​How does a lack of water affect our physical bodies? 

Since water coats our stomachs and helps us process the food we eat, we can get ulcers or stomach pain without enough of it. We can also develop poor digestion or constipation. Next time you’re feeling gassy or bloated, ask yourself if you have had enough to drink. 

Your liver also needs water, and without enough your blood-glucose levels get out of whack more easily. This leads to cravings of salts and sweet foods. Dehydration also makes it near impossible to lose weight. This is because your body requires water to eliminate fat. Your kidneys and bladder also need a lot of water to flush out unwanted microorganisms. Don’t get me wrong, some microorganisms are beneficial. But water will help ensure a healthy balance is in place internally. 

Does your breath stink? It’s possible that if you are experiencing foul body odor or chronically bad breath that you’re not receiving enough water intake. Water replenishes saliva and saliva helps flush out unwanted bacteria. Water also helps flush toxins out of the body and prevent body odor. 

How can insufficient water do damage to my health? 

Serious health problems can occur with chronic dehydration. We are not doctors, so keep seeing your medical professional if you do experience any of these health problems. But also consider drinking more water. 

Dehydration can be at the root of chronic fatigue, cholesterol imbalance, and high or low blood pressure. Again, this is because water keeps your blood moving and your blood keeps oxygen moving to be delivered to all the cells in your body that need oxygen to thrive. 

The same goes for muscle cramps and joint pain. Muscles and joints need water to make the lubrication and fluids they need to cool them down. We typically don’t think of water as being important for our lungs, but our entire respiratory systems require mucus to function well, and the manufacture of mucus requires water. 

Chronic eczema, dry skin, chapped lips, dandruff, and premature aging can all be caused by dehydration. Water helps maintain elasticity and helps our skin to regenerate. Water also delivers nutrients to our skin, so if you feel a bit flaky it is probably a good idea to go drink a nice, tall glass of water. 

How to stay dehydrated? 

Making health changes is the same as making a lifestyle change for the environment. By making a change, you get to achieve a healthy shift for your personal well-being and the health of the environment, which is also good for your personal well-being. So, it’s a win-win-win for you! 

1. Carry a reusable water bottle or Boxed Water with you throughout the day. Avoid plastic bottles as they wreak havoc on the environment and may be leeching yucky chemicals that end up in your body.

 

1. Avoid single use office cups by bringing a glass to leave at work. When you arrive in the morning you can fill it up and have something to sip on throughout the day. When you forget your bottle, which is bound to happen, then you will still have access to water throughout your day.

 

1. Be sure to do the bulk of your drinking between meals so your food has a good opportunity to digest. Try to be consistent about sipping throughout the day instead of chugging a whole bunch at once.

 

1. Consider replacing a cup of coffee or soda with a glass of the good stuff every day. This will have huge impacts on your health and the environment! Both growing coffee and bottling soda have serious environmental implications. If we can cut down our individual use just a little, we can collectively make a big impact.

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