4. Dehydration
That said, chronic and extended dehydration is bad. Like… really bad. And it’s also really common – it is an issue for the vast majority of people in the Western world in fact!
Dehydration causes a great many issues. It causes inflammation, it causes brain fog, it prevents proper digestion, leads to indigestion, causes muscle cramps… it even leads to severe headaches as the brain actually shrinks (like a sponge losing water) and then pulls away from the inside of the skull as a result. That’s about as pleasant as it sounds.
So, drink often during the day and listen to your body. On average, it is suggested that we should aim to drink a glass of water about seven times a day. Of course, this varies a lot though, depending on numerous factors such as your metabolism, the ambient temperature of the area you’re in, your activity levels, and more. Of course, even just an intense bout of exercise can lead to a large amount of lost fluid, which in turn can again lead to dehydration!