Thursday, June 1, 2017

Here's why dehydration is really bad for you

We’re all guilty of skimping on water throughout the day but it turns out it’s affecting your whole body.


Usually people who are dehydrated can fix that situation up pretty fast by simply downing a bottle of water - however severe dehydration is much, much worse.

Not only has does your heart have to work overtime and you lose essential salts from your body, but it also puts you in a seriously bad mood and leave you gasping for water.

These are the dangers of being dehydrated.

Speaking recently to US Weekly, David Gandy said two days before he has a big shoot he will “deplete all the salt” from his body and then the day before, he “dehydrates” himself.

While some may say that he’s a healthy man who knows his body, experts believe it could leave him with some serious side effect.

Speaking to Allure, nutritionist Keri Gans, R.D.N., said Gandy would more than likely have experienced a rough time throughout his routine.

"Dehydration particularly can cause side effects such as dizziness, increased thirst, dry mouth, fatigue, and a headache,” Gans said.

“You can also experience decreased urine output which may put you at risk for a heart attack.”


Prevention magazine spoke with University of Connecticut professor Lawrence E. Armstrong, PhD, who claimed water intake is all about balance.

"The entire amount of water in a woman's body may be 38 to 45 liters, and for a man, 42 to 48," he said.

"Dehydration means that for a period of time, you have lost part of that water. It's a matter of whole-body balance."


According to The Victorian government’s Better Health Channel, adults lose about 2.5 to 3 litres of water a day – with even more being lost through exercise.

They recommend a woman to drink about eight cups of water a day and men to drink 10 cups.


“Not drinking enough water can increase the risk of kidney stones and, in women, urinary tract infections,” the website states.

“It can also lower your physical and mental performance, and salivary gland function, and lead to dehydration.”

However they also warn against drinking too much water, claiming it could cause hyponatraemia (water intoxication).

“If large amounts of plain water are consumed in a short period of time, the kidneys cannot excrete enough fluid. Hyponatraemia can lead to headaches, blurred vision, cramps (and eventually convulsions), swelling of the brain, coma and possibly death,” the website states.

They claim hyponatraemia mostly occurs in diseases or infants who are fed formula which is too diluted.

No comments:

Post a Comment