Hydration and Aging

As people live longer, there is a concomitant increase in age-related chronic diseases. Finding ways to slow down aging and prevent such diseases has become a pressing task for medical research. One rather simple tool is to be sure you remain hydrated. The National Council on Aging states “As you get older, it’s even more important to stay hydrated. A study from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing found that up to 40% of elderly people may be chronically underhydrated.” While it is difficult to attribute a cause-and-effect relationship to age related maladies and dehydration, research work in animal models suggests that poor hydration may accelerate biological aging thereby increasing the risk of chronic disease and premature death. This suggests that staying properly hydrated might help slow down the aging process. Proper hydration can be very tricky because our appetite and thirst tend to diminish with age, and when your body is craving fluids, you might not be aware of it and consequently you may drink less than you need.

How do you know if you are dehydrated? Most if not all of us get blood tests and generally sodium is one element that is measured. If you are on the high side of the normal range or above the normal range, it is likely you are dehydrated.  Researchsuggests that differences in serum sodium were associated with differences in mortality. People with serum sodium near the middle of the normal range had the lowest mortality rate whereas those with serum sodium above this range had 21% greater risk of dying at an earlier age. Higher serum sodium was also associated with increased risk of chronic diseases including heart failure, dementia, chronic lung disease, and stroke supporting the idea that serum sodium above a certain threshold may be a risk factor for faster aging. It is believed that reduced fluid intake is the most likely common cause for high serum sodium so proper hydration is key to trying to slow down the aging process. While you have heard that you should take 8 glasses of water a day, keep in mind that most of the food you eat is primarily water so a good diet goes a long way to fending off dehydration but it is usually not enough. You need water and it is not enough to take coffee and tea as these drinks can have diuretic effects so you are losing the water you are consuming.  Many people like to take supplemented water such as vitamin or flavored water. This may be ok but generally you can make your own vitamin/flavored water at home and save on plastic usage and money while making a better-quality drink. Simply buy some freeze-dried organic berry powder on-line and add a teaspoon of powder and a ½ teaspoon of honey to 8 ounces of water and get the best out of your hydration with nutrients from the fruit powder and a complex carbohydrate (honey) for the bacteria in your gut.