What Happens To Your Sex Life When You Don't Drink Enough Water
Dehydration is a problem all around the world. In the U.S., around 75% of the population is chronically dehydrated. Experts will tell you that if your pee is strong-smelling and very yellow or if you're feeling lightheaded, tired, or dry-mouthed, then you're probably not drinking enough water.
But these are not the only signs of dehydration. Not drinking enough water can also become a problem in the bedroom. For men, this might mean problems with getting an erection, and for women, there could be problems with lubrication and sexual arousal. Quite simply put, it all comes down to what happens to your body when you drink water every day. It is not an exaggeration when people say "water sustains life" — this saying is true when it comes to the inner workings of your body. Everything from the smooth functioning of your cells, your endocrine system, blood flow, and oxygen delivery to organs is dependent on just how hydrated you are. Additionally, water helps remove toxins from your body and keeps your joints lubricated.
When it comes to your sex life, water plays the pivotal role of keeping sufficient blood volume in your body so that your blood vessels don't become constricted, per Medical News Today. Constricted blood vessels mean less blood flow to your sexual organs. For men, as mentioned, a lack of blood flow to the penis can cause issues with erection and for women, it could lead to vaginal dryness.
Other ways in which dehydration affects your sex life
Have you ever noticed how you get a headache and feel tired when you're not drinking enough water? This is one of the indirect ways in which not drinking enough H20 can impact your sex life. Water, as noted before, also keeps your muscles and joints working in top condition. All of these factors are important when you're trying to get intimate with your partner. Sex is a physical activity, not unlike playing ping pong or any such mild to moderate-level exertion.
"Staying hydrated helps maintain our energy levels by keeping muscles energized. Plus, dehydration can manifest as fatigue or low energy, so staying hydrated will help prevent that," shared registered dietician, Rima Kleiner (via NBC News). A 2011 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that dehydration caused impaired memory function, tension, and anxiety in men. Sex is very much connected to how you feel mentally, both for men and women, and not feeling great in your mind can affect how you feel in the bedroom.
Even when it comes to an orgasm, having enough fluid in you is associated with great climaxes, per Allo Health, for everyone involved. Drinking enough water can affect a man's fertility too, as hydration is correlated to semen volume and sperm concentration. Now that you know how getting enough water can enhance your sex life, let's look at some mistakes you're probably making when drinking water and what you can do to build better hydration habits.
How to stay hydrated for better sexual health
As soon as the topic of drinking more water comes up, you may be thinking about just how much you need to drink and how it's even possible when you have other responsibilities to think about during the day.
The key is to try and build in some healthy hydration habits so that drinking enough water doesn't start to feel like a chore. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that men take in about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day and women drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters), according to the Mayo Clinic. But this estimation may change depending on your activity levels and just how hot or cold your environment is. Listening to your body for the signs of dehydration — headache, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, and troubles with your sex life — and checking your urine every time you pee (it should be clear or light-hued), are good ways to keep abreast of things.
Experts recommend starting your day off with a tall glass of water (or two, if you're really thirsty). Then it's a matter of working some water breaks into your day. Investing in a cool bottle happens to be one great way to make drinking enough water fun. If you're interested in using technology to your advantage, you can buy yourself a smart water bottle with a built-in system to alert your phone whenever you need to drink up. Consuming water before meals and ending your day with H20 are other good tips.