Can Drinking More Water Lower My Cholesterol?

Can Drinking More Water Lower My Cholesterol?

Regular intake of water is essential for survival, as the human body is made up of at least 70% of this water. Inadequate water intake can quickly lead to dehydration, which can cause a variety of health problems. In response to dehydration, the body increases cholesterol production to keep cell membranes hydrated and flexible, allowing tissues to exchange waste and nutrients more efficiently. Low water intake also decreases the volume and rate of blood flow, increasing the risk of cholesterol buildup in the arteries.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood. The body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, and high cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease. When cholesterol levels are high, fatty deposits can form in the blood vessels, making it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries. These deposits can also suddenly break off and form blood clots, leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Symptoms Of High Cholesterol Levels

There are no typical symptoms of high blood cholesterol. A blood test is the best way to determine if you have high cholesterol.

What are the causes of high cholesterol?

There are many factors that contribute to high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. Some of them include the following

• Inactivity
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Dehydration
• Obesity
• Genetics

Risk factors associated with high cholesterol levels

• Obesity
• Malnutrition
• Smoking
• Lack of exercise
• Diabetes
• Age

Low Water Consumption

The recommended daily healthy hydration level is eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, but the amount of water you need will vary from person to person depending on your height, metabolic rate, activity level and the temperature of your environment. The book “Human Metabolism. Functional Diversity and Integration,” points out that it’s important to recognize that you don’t usually experience a thirst response unless you’re already mildly dehydrated, so drinking water regularly every day is the best strategy, no matter how thirsty you are. Although demonized by advertisers, cholesterol plays an important role in regulating metabolic function and maintaining cellular homeostasis. HDL and LDL cholesterol are essential for cellular and cardiovascular health, and when the HDL/LDL ratio is imbalanced due to lack of exercise or an unbalanced diet, problems can occur. When cells become dehydrated, the cell walls thicken to maintain fluid balance. This results in increased cholesterol production and more cholesterol being released into the circulatory system. Hydration is critical to cardiovascular health. Inadequate water consumption can lower blood volume, which can affect blood pressure. When too much cholesterol is released into the tired blood system, it is deposited on the walls of the arteries rather than being removed by the body. As cholesterol builds up in the arteries, it eventually becomes plaque, causing the arteries to lose their natural elasticity and affecting blood flow and the oxygen supply to the cells. Too much cholesterol in the cell walls can completely block the arteries and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Too much cholesterol can cause the artery walls to thicken and harden, a condition called atherosclerosis, which can block blood flow. It can also narrow the arteries, which slows or stops the flow of blood. With less blood, the heart receives less oxygen. This can lead to dramatic things like chest pain, heart attacks, and even death. Lowering your blood cholesterol levels is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of heart disease. And even if your cholesterol is close to the ideal range of 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood, you can lower it and reduce your risk of heart disease. When blood is this thick, water can play a very important role. When you drink water, it can actually thin your blood and make it easier for your blood to pump out naturally. When your body is dehydrated, your blood becomes more acidic and LDL cholesterol builds up more easily. Drinking more water helps keep your blood clean and removes excess cholesterol from your body. Drinking more water helps keep your blood clean A healthy diet and exercise contribute greatly to lowering cholesterol, so drinking water is again necessary to replace lost blood. In fact, drinking water to stay well hydrated helps to increase the metabolic rate.

Water also plays an important role in the health of your digestive system by facilitating the passage of food and waste. Your liver produces LDL cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, to produce bile acids that aid in digestion. In a healthy body, LDL, having done its job in producing bile, is collected and returned to the liver for later use. However, a diet low in water, low in fiber, and high in chemically processed foods speeds up digestion and causes the liver to produce more cholesterol in an attempt to break down the undigested food. LDL then enters the circulatory system and builds up in the walls of the arteries.

Symptoms Of Dehydration

Symptoms of dehydration can appear quickly and take you by surprise; according to MayoClinic.com, the first symptoms of dehydration are dry lips, mild thirst, fatigue, decreased urine output, headache, and dizziness; severe symptoms are severe thirst, confusion, cramps, no sweating or no urination, and sunken eyes. Severe symptoms include intense thirst, confusion, cramping, no sweating or urination, sunken eyes, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. The effects of dehydration are less obvious but can lead to changes in the way the body manages cholesterol.

Dehydration and cholesterol levels

According to the book Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach, chronic dehydration raises cholesterol levels in circulating blood because the body tries to produce more cholesterol to deposit in cell membranes to keep them flexible and prevent further water loss. A Canadian study published in Clinical and Investigative Medicine in 1994 found that dehydration while fasting increased total serum cholesterol levels, including HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and Apolipoproteins A-1 and B. It has been found that

Dehydration and hypovolemia

Dehydration decreases blood volume, affecting blood pressure and blood flow. As excess cholesterol is released into the bloodstream through dehydration, the flow rate is reduced and cholesterol is more likely to be deposited on the arterial walls. The buildup of cholesterol eventually becomes plaque, leading to atherosclerosis and increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Conclusion

When our bodies are dehydrated, cholesterol production increases, helping to keep cell membranes flexible and hydrated, allowing tissues to exchange waste and nutrients efficiently. Unfortunately, excess cholesterol can be detrimental to your health, accumulating in your arteries and limiting blood circulation. In addition to raising cholesterol levels, low hydration can reduce blood flow and increase the risk of clogged arteries. While more research is needed to determine the extent to which dehydration negatively affects cholesterol levels, it is clear that drinking more water can help reduce the risk. Regular hydration with filtered water rather than sugary sodas and other beverages can promote weight loss, which is directly related to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.