Want happy eyes? Drink more water.
Want happy eyes? Drink more water.
We’ve heard this a thousand times – Drink more water! Dehydration occurs when water leaves the body faster than it is replaced. If these fluids are not restored, the body will not have enough water to carry out its normal functions, including the eyes.
Drinking water not only benefits your body as a whole, but REALLY helps your eyes.
Did you know that your eyeballs are organs? Water is essential for each of your organs to function, including your eyes! Water is a major constituent of our bodies and vital organs. So, what do our eyeballs really do with that water?
Water lubricates the eyes!
Most of the eye is made of water and therefore it always has the presence of fluid. Without proper hydration, the eyes will lack the fluids they need to clear out debris (with tears), to blink comfortably, and even to see without straining. Your eyes are happiest when there is plenty of liquid in there to keep things clean and operating properly.
So, how much water do you actually need?
The magic number 8. Experts suggest that we drink 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day. If you drink a lot of drinks containing caffeine, you should add one extra 8-ounce glass for every cup of coffee or caffeinated drink. Fluid loss occurs in our daily bodily functions such as sweat, breathing, digestion, urination and bowel movements. The good news is most people who are in good physical health get their necessary intake of fluids by drinking when they are thirsty, and also by drinking a beverage with each of their meals. In any case, if you are not sure about your hydration level, look at your urine. If it is clear, you are in good shape. If it’s dark, you are probably dehydrated.
Dry eyes and H2O – What’s the link?
Dry eyes are caused when there are insufficient tears to nourish the eye, and tears are necessary for providing clear vision. Tears are comprised of a complex mixture of water, fatty oils and mucus. This mixture helps make the surface of your eyes smooth and clear, and it helps protect your eyes from infection. When your body is dehydrated and your eyes are lacking moisture, they can feel itchy, tired and uncomfortable. It may even feel like you have something constantly bugging you in your eye.
So, drink more water! It is especially important to intake fluid before, during and after exercise to replenish the water lost through sweating. Remove excess salt from your diet and reduce your intake of alcohol, caffeine and high-protein foods.
