Drinking Water May Decrease Biological Aging, But the Amount Matters
People have long sought the secret to living a longer and healthier life, and researchers believe they’ve discovered part of that equation. It may be as easy as drinking enough water.
A new Study The Lancet journal eBioMedicine published a study that found people who are well hydrated are less likely show signs of premature aging. Aging Chronic diseases.
Higher blood Sodium levels are associated with older biological ages
Researchers looked at health data accumulated for over 25 years from nearly 16,000 adults between 45 and 66 years old from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study to analyze their serum sodium levels—the amount of sodium in their blood—as a proxy for how much water they regularly drink.
Data collection began in 1987. The average age of the participants at the end of the study period was 75.
According to the findings, adults with elevated serum sodium levels (135-146 milliequivalents/liter, or mEq/L), experienced worse health outcomes compared to those who had lower levels.
Participants who had a level above 142 mEq/L showed a 64 per cent higher risk of developing chronic diseases like stroke, heart attack, peripheral arterial disease, atrial fibrillation and chronic lung disease.
The risk of them being biologically older than they are was 10 to 15% higher than adults with levels between 137 and 142 mEq/L.
A 21 percent increase in premature death risk was observed for those with serum levels between 144.5 to 146 mEq/L. Adults with serum sodium levels between 140 and 138 mEq/L had the lowest chance of developing chronic diseases.
While these findings can’t prove that staying hydrated can reduce disease risk, the researchers did establish an association between water intake and long-term health.
“Decreased body water content is the most common factor that increases serum sodium, which is why the results suggest that staying well hydrated may slow down the aging process and prevent or delay chronic disease,” Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher at National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, was the study author.https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/good-hydration-linked-healthy-aging#:~:text=Adults%20who%20stay%20well%2Dhydrated,Health%20study%20published%20in%20eBioMedicine%20.”>statement.
The authors also cited research that finds about half of all people worldwide don’t meet recommendations for daily total water intake, which typically starts at six cups or 1.5 liters.
“I think it [sodium] is one piece of the puzzle,” Dr. Jessica ZwerlingThe Epoch Times was told by a Montefiore Medical Center-affiliated neurologist. She thought the study did a nice job using sodium as a proxy for aging.
She pointed out that it’s necessary to look at many other factors, like hormones, inflammation, and cytokines (signaling cells), that may also influence aging.
The findings suggest it’s important to keep serum sodium in an optimal range. The health risks associated with low serum sodium were also higher, according to the researchers. This is consistent with previous findings. Research Study results showed that low serum sodium levels were associated with increased mortality in healthy subjects.
According to the study, no matter what your blood pressure is, sodium levels lower than normal are associated with more deaths, strokes, heart attacks and heart attacks than those of average intake.
How Much? Water The amount of different factors that we need to be successful depends on us.
According to research done by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Adult women should consume 2.2 liters of fluids daily, while adult men should drink three liters.
However, this doesn’t mean you need to drink those exact amounts.
“There have been good studies looking for ranges in women and men, around the two to two and a half liters per day range,” Zwerling. “But [only] 80 percent of that [water intake] comes from drink.”
There’s water content in the food we eat that counts toward our daily intake. The recommendation can also be different according to the health conditions we have, or certain medications we’re taking.
“Or if you have an acute infection, which can require drinking more water than the recommended amount,” Zwerling.
You can’t drink enough water
Electrolytes (like sodium) are vital minerals that act like charged particles to transmit electrical current across cells. This electrical current is crucial for nerve stimulation, muscle contract, and fluid regularity.
A deficiency can cause a host of unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue, lack of energy, muscle soreness, blood tension irregularity, confusion, and extreme fatigue. To maintain good health, it is important to keep your body in balance.
“Sodium plays one of the most important roles in the body,” Beata Rydyger (a registered nutritionist with Zen Nutrients) said that she is a clinical nutritional adviser to Zen Nutrients and a clinical nutritionist. “However, other electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and calcium also play vital roles and thus require daily maintenance.”
Proper daily hydration can be vital for optimal health. However, excessive drinking can cause health problems and even lead to death.
“The kidneys release approximately a quart of fluid per hour,” Rydyger explained. “Excess amounts of water intake can lead to a condition known as hyponatremia (low blood sodium).”
Drinking more than the kidneys are capable of eliminating causes sodium dilution, which is an essential electrolyte and can cause cells swelling and inflammation.
Symptoms of hyponatremia include headache, nausea, vomiting, and confusion—and in serious cases, seizures or death.
This risk can be increased by lifestyle factors such as exercise. [by causing excessive thirst]Rydyger cautioned.
George Citroner is a health reporter at The Epoch Times.
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