The Link Between Dehydration and Pain

About 60% of the adult human body is made up of water. When that water runs low, your body lets you know. Many times this will come in the form of pain. But many people don’t make the connection that the pain is being caused by a form of dehydration. Because water and the water in our cells play such a critical role in our body’s effective functioning, it is no surprise that nearly every organ in our bodies needs to be properly hydrated to function properly.

Many people, even some medical professionals, confuse severe dehydration with other health issues. Patients may then be prescribed unnecessary drugs or treatment, when simply optimising cellular hydration would resolve the problems without the potential side effects.

Symptoms of dehydration include:

• Chapped lips
• Dry skin
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Chronic pains such as arthritis, heartburn, back pain and migraines
• Stiffness or soreness

One way to tell if your body is dehydrated is to take a look at the colour of your urine. A hydrated body will produce a light yellow, almost clear colour urine, whereas a dehydrated body will produce a dark yellow or orange colour urine. You can also check for dehydration by conducting a simple skin test by gently pinching the skin at the back of your wrist or arm. Once you release the skin, if it goes back quickly to its original state, you are well hydrated. If it stays pinched for more than a few seconds, it means you are dehydrated. This is because the skin cells are sticking to each other, due to lack of fluids.

The link between dehydration and pain may seem abstract at first. But when we look at the makeup of the body, the connection becomes more obvious. Connective tissue (such as tendons, ligaments and collagen fibers) houses the bulk of the body’s water. As we lose water from connective tissues due to ageing, poor diet and lifestyle choices, we are prone to more physical injuries, which lead to inflammation. Pain can be caused by dehydration because the inflammation accumulates in order to repair the damage.

Let’s take the joints for example. Water makes up the majority of the lubricant in your joints; and this water helps flush toxins from the joints. But when your body becomes dehydrated, as a precaution, it begins to “steal” water from other areas of the body, including your joints. This loss of water in the joints allows toxins to linger, leading to pain and inflammation.

The bottom line is that optimal hydration levels are key to a healthy body. However, it is not just about the water you drink, it’s about the water your body keeps. From my own scientific research, and validated by numerous other studies, creating healthy, water-tight cells that will help to keep hydration levels in your body stable is an overarching key to preventing dehydration, and ultimately dehydration-related pain.

The most effective way to help your cells remain water-tight is through a holistic approach. By focusing on topical care that protects the skin, the body’s first layer of defense, you are helping the body shield itself from damaging free radicals in our environment. And by focusing internally, on eating healthy water-rich foods (what I refer to as “eat your water”), you are not only getting extra hydration into the body, but you are also providing your body with optimal nutrients to build stronger, healthier cells as well. And finally, reducing cell-damaging stress will help your cells stay healthy and strong.

Water is a key ingredient to making our bodies function properly. If you want to avoid chronic pain and live a healthy, hydrated life, focus on eating your water and building your cellular health.