Can Dehydration Affect Your Gut?

Dehydration is a physical condition that happens when your body loses more water than you take in. As the body is made of about 60% water, maintaining that level of hydration is crucial to all our healthy bodily functions. One of the healthy bodily functions most impacted by dehydration is our digestive system. Our digestive system is critical to more than just processing food. It is also where we process and distribute all the nutrients our bodies need to thrive. This digestive function is essential to have a healthy cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, and more.

How Does Dehydration Impact Our Gut Health

Dehydration impacts our gut health in many ways. First, water is used to push food through our intestines to be digested. Without enough water, our intestines can become backed up, causing pain, bloating, and constipation. Secondly, when there isn’t enough water in our digestive system, our bodies will pull water from other places. This leads to becoming further dehydrated and disrupts other bodily functions. Finally, dehydration can potentially cause a permeable gut due to the effects of inflammation. A permeable gut is when the intestinal walls loosen, leading to toxins entering the body. Staying hydrated can help minimize the potential of these issues. 

Staying Hydrated To Support Our Gut Health

With so many unhealthy impacts of dehydration on our gut health, we must stay hydrated. The best way to do this is to simply drink 8-12 glasses of water every day. Unfortunately, though the remedy is simple, it’s not always easy to drink enough water during our busy days. That is why you need to make a plan to stay hydrated every day. Invest in a water bottle that you can take on the go and refill as needed. You can also stock your fridges at home and work with functional beverages that offer flavor, hydration, and added nutrition.

Staying hydrated is important to all your bodily functions, especially your digestive health. Making a plan to drink plenty of water and hydrating functional beverages will help you stay hydrated and support your gut health. For a flavorful and nutritious functional beverage, try All Phenoms. Available in three tasty flavors, they’re an easy and delicious way to stay hydrated. They’re perfect for at home and on the go. Plus, they're loaded with nutrients, nootropics, and adaptogens that support your health in other ways.