A recent scientific study is making headlines this week. You see, researchers have begun to unravel the secret to staying young! And as it turns out, the answer to maintaining your youth may surprise you. That’s right, it doesn’t involve fancy diets, special anti-aging creams or grueling exercises. Actually, it may be as simple as hydration!
In this blog, let’s learn a little more about this study, and the overall benefits of hydration.
Digging Deeper Into This Recent Study on Hydration and Healthy Aging
A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study published in the
eBioMedicine journal this month looked at the link between the blood sodium levels of its participants and a set of various health indicators. Over the course of about 35 years, the research looked at 11,255 participants aged 45–66.
The study seems to support the hypothesis that people who remain hydrated have a lower risk of chronic conditions. According to the findings, these individuals also appear to live longer and be generally healthier. On the other hand, those with higher blood sodium levels were linked to more health risks and signs of advanced biological aging.
For reference, “biological aging" refers to a way of estimating how well a person’s body operates compared to the population average. For example, if you have a biological age of 40, you have a similar health to the average 40-year-old.
The Link Between Hydration and Healthy Aging
In general, the more under-hydrated a person is, the higher their blood sodium levels. In fact, the authors of the study point out that an estimated 50 percent of people across the world don’t drink as enough water. Based on the study, one might deduce that the more you drink fluids, the lower your blood sodium levels. Therefore, the healthier you are. However, the authors acknowledge that further studies are necessary to fully link blood sodium levels with water intake. Still, reasonable assumptions can be made that the two do appear to be connected.
So, as it turns out, taking a sip from the “fountain of youth” may actually be all that’s required after all…as long as that fountain is filled simply with fresh, clean water!
What is Dehydration?
Dehydration occurs when your body uses more fluid than it takes in. So how do you prevent this from happening? It is a good idea to drink water consistently throughout the day. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the standard recommended amount to drink is considered 3.7 liters (125 ounces) for men and 2.7 liters (91 ounces) for women. The CDC also mentions that “consuming inadequate amounts of water increases the risk of dehydration, kidney stones, and poorer cognitive performance.” And now, thanks to this study, we can surmise that it also increases your aging as well.
Other Benefits of Hydration
In the past, we’ve touched on
overhydration, but this is rather rare. Instead, it’s best to reap the benefits of drinking sufficient amounts of water. In fact, drinking water can help to regulate your body temperature and bowel movements, and rid the body of any harmful waste.
As you can see, whether or not continued studies conclude with a link between aging and hydration, it will still benefit you to drink your water!
