{"id":740,"date":"2023-02-14T06:30:45","date_gmt":"2023-02-14T06:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nutrishilp.com\/blog\/?p=740"},"modified":"2025-04-12T08:37:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T08:37:38","slug":"water-the-neglected-nutrient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nutrishilp.com\/blog\/water-the-neglected-nutrient\/","title":{"rendered":"WATER – THE NEGLECTED NUTRIENT"},"content":{"rendered":"

WATER – THE NEGLECTED NUTRIENT<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Water is essential for a healthy life. Not only does it help with hydrating our skin, regulating our body temperature, maintaining blood pressure, detoxing our body, and other important bodily functions, but getting enough fluid intake is also connected to the makeup of our gut microbiome.<\/p>\n

Our gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria found mostly within our small and large intestines. Keeping the gut flora healthy benefits digestion, decreasing the risk of many chronic diseases, and can even benefit one\u2019s mental health.<\/p>\n

While many would assume that consuming enough prebiotics and probiotics is essential for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome\u2014which is still true, of course\u2014but the impact will be multiplied many folds if water is gulped in right amount.<\/p>\n

Is water the neglected nutrient for our gut microbiota?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When looking for the best advice for a healthier gut microbiota and maintaining health. We often neglect the water and its intake in our daily life the fact is explained in part by the fact that drinking water is not always considered part of the diet thus Nutrishilp <\/strong>refers to it as \u201cthe neglected nutrient\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Water is an essential part of a\u00a0healthy balanced diet\u00a0because the body relies on it to function properly. Between 50% and 80% of the human body is made up of water. All the body\u2019s chemical processes take place in water. We need water for digestion, to absorb nutrients, to help us move, get rid of waste products and to regulate our body temperature.<\/p>\n

In the fast paced life today, when do you pick the water bottle up for drinking water? Most of us do it only to quench the thirst but<\/p>\n

Is Thirst Enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A healthy body is designed to send thirst signals when the body becomes depleted of fluids. Thirst is the desire to drink, and is not only driven by physiological cues but behavioural cues. As people tend to drink the most water when it is served at room temperature even though cooler drinks are rated as most pleasing to taste. We are also often influenced to drink (and eat) more in social settings.<\/p>\n

As we age, however, the body\u2019s regulation of fluid intake and thirst decline. Certain conditions that impair mental ability and cognition, such as a stroke or dementia, can also impair thirst. People may also voluntarily limit drinking due to incontinence or difficulty getting to a bathroom. In addition to these situations, people who are ill, and infants may not have an adequate sense of thirst to replete their fluid needs. Even mild dehydration may produce negative symptoms, so people who cannot rely on thirst or other usual measures may wish to use other strategies. For example, aim to fill a 20-ounce water bottle four times daily and sip throughout the day, or drink a large glass of water before each meal and snack.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of dehydration that may occur with as little as a 2% water deficit<\/p>\n