They had this really cool scale that gave me information about my body composition and it told me that I was dehydrated. Hey, this is Texas! It’s summer time! Of course I’m dehydrated!

I did it anyway. I was drinking so much water I thought I was going to float away. But then I began to notice that I felt better. I was less foggy. My skin began to get a glow. Water? Could it be?

Benefits of Drinking Water

Yes. There are a lot of benefits to drinking water that don’t even pertain to weight loss. For example:

1. You can exercise better. Being hydrated gives you energy.
2. You think better. Being hydrated can improve brain funtion.
3. Your digestion improves. Being hydrated helps you have easier bowel movments.
4. You lose weight easier. Being hydrated can curb cravings.
5. You have less headaches. Being hydrated can prevent migraines.
6. Your blood pressure may lower. Being hydrated can reduce the density of your blood, hence reducing blood pressure.
7. Your cholesterol can lower. Being hydrated can clear your blood vessels helping reduce cholesterol.
8. You have less wrinkles. Being hydrated improves the elasticity of your skin and helps deliver nutrients to your skin.
9. You have less acne. Being hydrated helps detoxify the body, healing your skin and uncloging pores.
10. You have less bloating feeling. Being hydrated can reduce swelling of hands, feet, legs and belly by reducing fluid retention.
11. You have less joint pain. Being hydrated helps lubricate your muscles and joints.
12. Your mood improves. Being hydrated can help replinish serotnin, a neurotransmitter that affects your mood.
13. You sleep better. Being hydrated helps your body produce melatonin, a hormone that plays an important roll is sleep cycles.

Overall, being hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your health. The diet center I was going to wanted me to drink the bottled water that was enhanced with electrolytes.

Bottled or Tap?

I’m really not sure which is better. I can find articles that make the case on both sides of the fence. Ok. Let’s face it — tap water is less expensive and more environmentally friendly. Tap is delivered through the public water system and bottled is in plastic. Bottle water gives you more options. Artesian water comes from wells that tap aquifiers while minteral water comes from underground sources that have a stable concentration of mineral and trace elements. Spring water also comes from an underground source but doesn’t have a stable mineral/trace element composition. Purified means the water has been treated by distillaiton, reverse osmosis, ozonation, etc.

For the most part, in the US you should be fairly safe drinking tap water — Unless you were living at Camp Lejeune before 1987. Not to make a joke of Camp Lejeune because it is horrible what happened to the folks who lived there. If you are worred about the quality of your tap water, you should definately drink bottled. CNBC did a study on the quality of tap water by state and if your are in Kentucky, you are lucky. I’m in Texas, which ranks in the bottom 10 but I still drink the tap water — and bottled!

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/08/best-and-worst-tap-water-states-j-d-power-study.html

Can you get too much of a good thing?

YES! There is such a thing as overhydration! It’s called water toxicity. When you have more water than your kidneys can excrete it can cause an electrolyte imbalance. I remember a few decades ago, my mother’s doctor told her to reduce her salt intake and drink more water. She called me one morning before I left for work and told me she had passed out in the tub. We rushed her to the hospital only to find out her electrolytes were dangerously low. Seems she followed her doctor’s orders a bit too well!

Normally the folks who are in danger of water toxicity are the endurance athletes, those who run marathons, participate in triathletes, hike in extreme hot weather, or military in the training exercises. These type of excesive physical activite at the hottest part of the day can not only lead to heat stroke, but if the person is drinking a lot of water without replinshing their eletrolytes will suffer water toxicity.

Interestingly enough heat stroke and water toxicity have close to the same symptioms: headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, fainting.

Bottom line ….

Staying hydrated is important for both your physical and mental health. Always consult with your doctor about any changes to your diet. You are not a “statistic”. You are a unique individual and your hydration needs will be different from another person, including electrolyte balance. If you exhibit any symptom that causes your concern, ask your doctor for an Electolyte panel.

Remember, I’m just a normal person who reads a lot. I’m not a doctor. This article is like talking to your next door neighbor. Don’t take my word for it! Ask your doctor how much water you should be drinking and tell your doctor what symptoms you have.