The Importance of Hydration

We often take water for granted; it covers approximately 71% of the world’s surface, it falls from the sky, and many of us are lucky enough to have it plumbed directly into our homes and flowing freely from our taps. Yet it is an astonishing, life-sustaining substance that is vital not only to the day-to-day functioning of our bodies but to our very survival.

Water is known as the universal solvent, because of its ability to dissolve more substances than any other known liquid. This property of being able to dissolve solids, gases and minerals means water has the amazing ability to transfer variable nutrients and chemicals from place to place on the planet and – perhaps even more vitally – within our body.

Up to 60% of the human body is made up of water and maintaining that balance of bodily fluids is crucial in terms of ensuring that our bodies continue to function well, feel good and ultimately – live. Water functions in a number of specific ways to make this possible:

Role in digestion

Water makes up a large part of saliva, but saliva also includes small quantities of electrolytes, mucus and enzymes which help to break down solid food and keep your mouth healthy. This is a prime example of water acting as a universal solvent in the body; similarly, stomach acid is a solution of water, hydrochloric acid, mucus, digestive enzymes and electrolytes which continue to break down solid food so your body can absorb the nutrients. Water also helps to keeps stools hydrated to maintain normal bowel movements through the gastrointestinal tract, thereby preventing constipation.

Regulates body temperature

When you are exposed to heat, your body’s automated cooling processes swing into action, and you start to sweat. As sweat evaporates from your skin, you begin to feel cooler – and so water has helped to regulate your body temperature. This is why it is so easy to become dehydrated in heat, highlighting the importance of hydration in hot weather.

Muscles

Water represents around 76% of muscle mass. The cells of your muscles need water in order to be able to function correctly, which underlines the importance of drinking water while you’re exercising. This is why it’s recommended to drink water 2 hours before exercise, at regular intervals during exercise, and after you’ve finished exercising – to replace water lost through sweat. Athletes who overlook the importance of hydration will almost certainly experience a drop in performance.

Kidney function

Staying hydrated allows the kidneys to effectively clear waste products, sodium, and urea from the bloodstream. Conversely kidney stones and urinary tract infections are more likely to occur in people who are chronically dehydrated.

Cushioning of vital body parts

Water plays a significant role in protecting the body’s tissues and spinal cord, as well as lubricating and cushioning the joints. The cerebrospinal fluid that protects the brain and spine, for example, is made up of 99% water. Water also carries nutrients and oxygen to your entire body, including the brain and bones.

One of the major causes of constipation is dehydration, because if you don’t already have enough water in your body, your large intestine will soak up water from your food waste – making your stools harder and more difficult to pass. This is what we literally call a ‘stubborn stool’.

So why drink water when you’re constipated?

Absorption of nutrients

Enzymes in your saliva and stomach acid break down any food you eat so your body can more easily absorb the correct amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to the body, while breaking down the remainder of the food to send it through the digestive tract to be excreted.

Supports the gut microbiome

The importance of hydration with regards to the gut microbiome lies in the pivotal role water plays in intestinal secretions, gut motility and waste removal. A balanced gut microbiome is impossible without sufficient water intake.

Softens the stool

When you’re sufficiently hydrated, the water in your body binds together with food you’ve eaten to help it easily pass through your digestive tract for normal bowel function, i.e. passing stools that are neither too hard or too soft, ensuring you are neither constipated nor experiencing diarrhoea.

How much water should I be drinking?

The UK’s Eatwell Guide recommends drinking at least 6-8 cups of water every day in order to stay optimally hydrated. If you have been doing this for some time and are still experiencing constipation symptoms after drinking plenty of water, there may be other factors at play.

Lack of fibre in diet

You might not be eating enough fibre – which is a substance that helps keep your bowel moving by bulking your stools with material that helps water bind to them, so they can move more easily through your digestive system. In this article, you can find some suggestions of foods that are high in the insoluble fibres that have a role in digestion.

Not getting enough exercise

Your body needs regular movement to help it digest food. Exercise encourages your abdominal and pelvic muscles to stimulate intestinal movement, this is a process known as ‘peristalsis’, as a result of which stools are moved along your intestine and out of your body.

Side effects of medications

Constipation symptoms can come about as a result of certain medications, for example opioid-based pain medication, but also some antidepressants, antacids, antispasmodics, diuretics, or iron and calcium supplements.

Stress and anxiety

Your emotional state can have a significant impact on your digestive system; high levels of stress or anxiety can change the behaviour of digestive organs like the intestines, and you may experience constipation symptoms as a result.

Movicol^® helps to address the problem of dehydrated, stubborn stools through its active ingredient macrogol, which binds with water and draws it into the stools so they become softer and easier to pass. You can read about how to relive constipation with Movicol^® here.

Through this process, Movicol^® works to remedy the digestive effects of dehydration in your body, helping to restore natural bowel movements in a generally well-tolerated and effective way – without any need for a prescription.

So, if you’re struggling with a stubborn stool, and drinking more water, eating more fibre and exercising haven’t helped, then why not find out how Movicol^® can help move things along for you?

Movicol^® Ease Powder for oral solution contains macrogol. For constipation. Always read the label.