If you want to age less, drink this amount of water every day

“If you drink enough water, you age less,” a study found. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, published recently in the medical journal eBioMedicine, drinking enough water is associated with better health, fewer chronic diseases such as heart and lung disease, and longer lifespan.

Researchers followed 11,255 adults for 30 years and analyzed the association between increased serum sodium levels and health markers when water levels in the body decreased.

Two results emerged. First, high serum sodium levels were associated with an increased risk of heart failure. The researchers first visited the youngest group of participants in their 50s to check their health. Five more tests were conducted over the next 30 years, and the participants were between 70 and 90 years of age at the last test. For closer examination, the researchers excluded obese adults, which affected serum sodium levels. This study began in 1987.

Normal serum sodium levels range from 135 to 146 mEq/L per litre. The researchers looked at participants within this normal range, and among them, adults with a high serum sodium level of 142 mEq/L or higher had a 10-15% increased chance of being older than those in the 137-142 mEq/L range. In addition, adults with 144 mEq/L or higher had a 50% higher chance of being biologically older. In addition, those in the 144.5-146 mEq/L range had a 21% increased risk of premature death compared to those in the 137-142 mEq/L range.

Adults with serum sodium levels above 142 mEq/L had up to a 64% increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease, as well as chronic lung disease, diabetes and dementia. Conversely, adults with serum sodium levels between 138 and 140 mEq/L had the lowest risk of chronic disease.

Second, high serum sodium levels were found to be highly correlated with aging. Researchers assessed it with 15 health indicators. They tracked how well people’s cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, kidney and immune systems were functioning by analyzing factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

They found that adults with high serum sodium levels were more likely to develop chronic disease and show signs of aging than adults with intermediate serum sodium levels. The higher the number, the greater the likelihood of dying at a young age.

“This suggests that adequate hydration may slow aging and help you live disease-free,” said Dr. Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher at the Center for Cardiovascular and Regenerative Medicine. He added, “People with serum sodium above 142 mEq/L will be healthy if they drink a lot of water.” You can get hydration not only with water, but also with juices, or vegetables and fruits with high water content.

The National Institutes of Health recommends 6-9 cups of fluid for women and 8-12 cups for men daily.