5 Slightly Frightening Effects of Dehydration

Did you know 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated?

That means YOU are probably dehydrated right now. Dehydration is the loss of water and salts essential for normal body function. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in. Basic daily activities like breathing and walking cause the body to excrete water and can lead to dehydration. So imagine how dehydrated you must be after sweating from strenuous physical activity.

 

Traditional sugar-filled sports drinks, juices, coffee, soda, and alcohol actually dehydrate the body even more. To compromise, the average American is supposed to drink approximately 10 glasses of water, daily. Do you drink 10 glasses of water daily?

 

 

Here are 5 slightly frightening effects of dehydration:

 

1.) Reduced brain size and function

73% of the brain is made of water. When you aren’t properly hydrated, your brain tissue loses water and shrinks in size. A group of scientists in the UK did a study showing that 90 minutes of sweating without replenishing lost fluids can shrink the brain as much as the wear and tear of aging more than a full year.  At just 1.1% body water weight loss researchers saw increased neural effort when performing cognitive tasks, having an effect on short term memory, long term memory recall, arithmetic and general problem solving.

 

 

2.) Headache, dizziness, and fainting

According to the Mayo Clinic, mild to moderate dehydration can result in the dreaded headache. It can also cause dizziness and even fainting. When you are dehydrated, your brain tissue loses water causing your brain to shrink and pull away from the skull. The pain receptors in the brain are triggered by this, resulting in that throbbing pain we all know too well. Additionally, the body’s blood volume drops when you are dehydrated which lowers the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. This causes the blood vessels to dilate which leads to swelling and inflammation, more pain.

3.) Digestion problems 

Water is crucial for healthy digestion because it keeps food moving through the intestines and keeps the intestines smooth and flexible. One of the most common causes of constipation is dehydration. If you aren’t properly hydrated when food makes its way from your stomach to large intestine, the large intestine soaks up the water from your food waste, making your stool hard. Too little stomach acid due to dehydration is often found be the real cause of acid reflux. Similarly, heartburn is a signal by the human body of water shortage in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract.

4.) Dry skin

Skin is the largest human organ of the integumentary system. The health of our skin is a direct reflection of how hydrated our skin tissue cells are. Skin quickly becomes dry, flaky, and wrinkled when we are dehydrated. As we age, skin loses its elasticity, making it more difficult for water to enter our cells. The skin is one of the first places in the body to stop receiving water when the body becomes dehydrated because priority is given to vital organs such as liver, brain, and lungs.

5.) Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps are dreaded among athletes. But they can happen to anyone. They often result from overuse of a muscle during exercise but can also be triggered by dehydration or even holding a specific position for a prolonged period of time. Muscles need water and electrolytes to function at their full potential.

 

PS- Beware of bad breath too!

No one likes bad breath. And oddly enough, dehydration leads to a decrease in saliva production, which in turn leads to bad breath. Saliva has a cleaning action that helps reduce or eliminate bad breath. How? When you aren’t eating or drinking water, your body produces less saliva, allowing bacteria to grow and cause bad breath. Yuck!

 

So what can you do to prevent all of these nasty effects?

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.

And that’s where Liquid I.V. comes in!

 

Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier is a great-tasting, portable powder drink mix that uses the breakthrough science of Cellular Transport Technology (CTT)™ to deliver hydration to your bloodstream faster and more efficiently than water alone. 1 Liquid I.V. can provide the same hydration as drinking 2-3 bottles of water.

The hydration powder mixes into 16oz of water and contains no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors or flavors (also free of dairy, gluten and soy). Voted Best New Product of 2016, Liquid I.V. has more vitamin C than an orange, more potassium than a banana and 3x the electrolytes of traditional sports drinks with less than half sugar.

Proper hydration is the key to almost every function in the human body. Each of these slightly frightening effects can be prevented or fixed by making sure your body has the proper balance of water and electrolytes. Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier has the precise ratio of ingredients your body needs to replenish and maintain ideal hydration levels.

 

 

 

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