The TRUTH of whether drinking more water is good for you – from weight gain to infections and splitting headaches

HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH TO DRINK?

If not, you might want to quickly refill the water bottle at the faucet.

Because keep in mind that you can already be dehydrated if you wait till you feel thirsty.

This tip is widely shared online, but no one is entirely sure where it originated.

According to NHS guidelines, we should consume six to eight glasses daily.

The habit of drinking up to a gallon of water every day has been promoted by influencers as a way to lose weight.

People with UTIs and headaches, on the other hand, always have a bottle of water on hand.

The risk of drinking too much water is minimal, regardless of how much you consume.

Mild hyponatremia, or too little sodium in the blood, is the primary problem associated with excessive water consumption.

Rarely, overhydration has resulted in death in ecstasy addicts or marathon runners.

Although usually not severe, it can increase the risk of falls and cause minor cognitive problems, particularly in elderly persons.

However, according to a recent analysis, there are often few adverse effects of drinking water, and the evidence of its beneficial effects is rather apparent.

The buzz around hydration is overwhelming us, but how much of the good information is supported by science?

A group of experts from around the world conducted a systematic evaluation of 18 studies to determine the everyday advantages of drinking water.

The researchers found that drinking water on a daily basis can dramatically lower the risk of two critical health disorders in their report, which was published yesterday in Jama Network Open.

Dropping a dress size?

There’s an old saying that you’ve probably heard: “If you’re hungry, you might actually be thirsty.”

Or maybe folks just tell themselves this to help them lose weight.

In any case, three different research have shown that going down some fluids can help those who want to lose weight.

According to each study, respondents consumed 111 fewer calories if they drank 500ml (just over two cups) of water before eating.

“Hunger ratings were lower, while subjective fullness ratings were higher with premeal water consumption,” the researchers stated.

Additionally, they proposed that consuming that much water prior to eating could have a “psychosocial” effect by “serving as a reminder to eat healthier food.”

Reducing headaches?

According to the NHS, there are hundreds of reasons why your head could hurt, but dehydration headaches definitely happen.

According to the systematic study, they can occasionally be cured by water.

According to two studies that examined the effects of drinking water on those who experience recurrent headaches, “quality of life” can be enhanced by consuming 1.5 liters daily for three months.

In the research, several participants reported having headaches less frequently.

According to the authors, however, the results were not “statically significant” because of the tiny sample sizes of each, which indicates that a study’s findings are unlikely to be the product of anything other than chance.

“Future research is warranted to better understand whether there is a therapeutic or preventive role for water interventions for patients with recurrent or debilitating headaches,” they stated.

Help you control your diabetes?

Drinking water may help control blood sugar, particularly in those with type 2 diabetes.

Over the course of eight weeks, the researchers discovered that consuming one liter of water before meals each day helped lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, particularly those with high initial levels.

The body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it correctly in persons with type 2 diabetes.

A hormone called insulin facilitates the transfer of glucose, or blood sugar, into cells so that it can be used as fuel.

When insulin is insufficient or not functioning properly, sugar accumulates in the blood rather than being utilized by the cells, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.

By increasing insulin production, increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, or assisting the kidneys in eliminating extra sugar, medication helps control blood sugar.

Without treatment, blood sugar levels might remain extremely high, which over time can cause major health concerns such kidney problems, nerve damage, and heart disease.

According to researchers, this easy, inexpensive habit may lessen the need for prescription drugs.

Given that participants who drank water lost more weight than those who did not, it is interesting to note that the advantage was associated with premeal timing and may potentially be related to weight reduction.

Reducing the risk of kidney stones?

Crystals known as kidney stones develop when waste materials from the blood accumulate in the kidneys.

Some individuals pass them painlessly, but if they become lodged in the kidneys or the ureter—the tube that joins the kidneys to the bladder—they can cause excruciating agony in the abdomen.

The researchers discovered two trials that indicated kidney stone occurrences were cut in half and recurrence was postponed by increasing water consumption to produce at least two liters of urine each day.

They claimed that by lowering the concentration of salts that cause stones and avoiding supersaturation and stone accumulation, drinking more water may also minimize the risk of stones in healthy individuals.

Stopping UTIs?

The memories of a urinary tract infection (UTI) will make anyone cringe.

Most people find it difficult to forget that fierce urge to urinate and the agonizing burning feeling that occurs after.

Antibiotics are often the first line of treatment for many people after cranberry juice consistently fails to relieve their discomfort.

Researchers have now demonstrated that increasing water intake by 1.5 liters per day decreased episodes and prolonged the interval between infections in women who experience recurrent UTIs (infections that occur at least five times annually).

They proposed that a high fluid intake would be beneficial in eliminating germs and keeping it from adhering to the walls of the bladder.

This easy method could help avoid antibiotic resistance by lowering the number of UTIs and lowering the need for medications.

However, because of its short duration and small sample size, a trial on a 1900 ml daily water intervention failed to provide a clear advantage in preventing UTIs.

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