Learn / Why Does Alcohol Dehydrate You: What To Know
July 31st, 2023
In the soft gray light of dawn, the world awakens, crisp and vibrant. Birds serenade the rising sun, their sweet songs echoed in the dew-kissed leaves, the universe unfolding in its daily rebirth.
And yet, many of us don't partake in this symphony of awakening, silenced by dulled senses and throbbing temples, the aftermath of last night's indulgence. The phenomena of the morning after the night before — a state of dehydration caused by alcohol consumption — is all too familiar.
Understanding the implications of alcohol on our bodies is as essential as understanding the maps of our existence. The rivers that flow within us, veins and arteries, are the life-giving channels that nourish our cells. A disturbance to this equilibrium, such as alcohol-induced dehydration, is a disruption of the fine-tuned harmony of life.
Imagine our bodies as pristine landscapes, lush with flowing rivers and serene lakes, full of life. A sip of alcohol is akin to a summer sun rising higher, its blazing intensity forcing the waters to evaporate. The waterways in our bodies, once abundant, begin to recede, life around them struggling to thrive.
This image is not so far off from the exact biochemical process that occurs when alcohol enters our system. Alcohol has a diuretic effect, which means it promotes the production of urine, driving more water out of our bodies.
It suppresses the production of an essential hormone, vasopressin, which ordinarily regulates the reabsorption of water in our kidneys. As alcohol inhibits vasopressin, our kidneys send water straight to the bladder instead of reabsorbing it into our bodies, accelerating the rate of water loss.
As a result, dehydration ensues. Our bodies, a vast ecosystem, experience a devastating drought, the rivers and lakes of hydration within us dwindling. One might not directly perceive this invisible struggle within, but the effects soon rise to the surface.
\As fundamental to our being as the air we breathe, this life-sustaining fluid composes approximately 60 percent of our physical form.
In this tranquil azure river, every cell in our body finds its sustenance. The transporting of nutrients, the harmonious balance of temperature, and the removal of waste are all carried out in the tender hold of this nourishing current.
Water stands guard over the health of our joints, offering a gentle cushion that guards against the gnaw of time. It shields our spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, their safety ensured within its protective grasp.
More than just the physical, water shapes our cognitive landscape, facilitating the formation of neurotransmitters, those chemical couriers of our brain. It assists in delivering oxygen throughout our form, driving the life force that invigorates each cell.
Our bodies, like verdant gardens, wilt without hydration. Lacking water, we drift towards the desolate dunes of dehydration, our cognitive and physical functions diminished. Water is not just a part of our existence — it is our existence.
During dehydration, the entire body craves replenishment, responding in a myriad of ways as it yearns for the cool, restorative embrace of hydration.
Thus, it is essential to understand this delicate dance between alcohol and hydration, understanding the signs and risks of alcohol-induced dehydration so you are better prepared to respond to them.
Short-Term Health Risks
When our inner landscape suffers from alcohol's drought-like impact, a cascade of discomfort emerges. In the short term, the parched terrain mirrors itself in our physical plight, often associated with the dreaded hangover.
For instance, you may experience throbbing temples, a tangible element of the brain shrinking due to water loss and creating pressure on the nerves. Your mouth, once a wellspring, now a cotton-dry creek bed due to decreased saliva production.
An elevated heart rate quickens its tempo, your body's desperate plea for water. Lightheadedness can cloud your day under the scorching sun of alcohol-induced dehydration.
The onset of nausea, a dark cloud on the horizon, manifests as digestion slows without adequate water. These are your body’s urgent Morse code, tapping out a distress signal in the relentless arid expanse.
Long-Term Health Risks
Recurring alcohol-induced dehydration is a cruel architect, shaping a treacherous path of long-term health risks. Persistently walking this path could invite conditions such as hypertension and kidney disease, turning our once verdant, thriving landscape into a barren desert.
Cognitive Effects
Dehydration does not spare the lush groves of our minds from alcohol's arid advance. The neural network, like a solitary tree in a drought-ridden savannah, wilts under dehydration's unyielding heat.
Memory fades like a mirage in the desert as the brain cells struggle to function efficiently without their requisite hydration. The river of concentration ebbs, and the ability to make decisions dwindles like a parched plant bereft of life-giving moisture.
This cognitive drought is a testament to the profound interplay between hydration and our mental faculties.
Physical Effects
The physical landscape of our bodies bears the visible scars of alcohol's relentless heat. Skin, our external canvas, parches and wrinkles without its customary nourishment.
Understanding these signs of severe dehydration can help us understand the stories our bodies are urgently trying to tell us. Recognizing these symptoms for what they are allows us to intervene promptly, providing the necessary care and hydration our bodies so desperately need. In doing so, we can prevent further harm and work towards restoring the natural equilibrium within us.
In cases where dehydration intensifies, signs become clear and unmistakable, manifesting a critical plea for help from our bodies. They read as a stark tale of urgency, a need for immediate action to restore balance and harmony within our bodily systems.
More severe signs of dehydration include dizziness and fainting as the body's balance is compromised under the weight of severe water loss. In the most severe instances, one may experience confusion or incoherence, a cognitive fog that descends when the brain.
Other alarming signs include a high fever, vomiting, and rapid breathing, which all indicate that the body's systems are severely stressed and unable to cope. In these instances, seeking immediate medical support is paramount.
While the practice of drinking plenty of water alongside alcohol can help dilute its dehydrating impact, this effort can often feel like trying to fill a leaking vessel. The deeper issue remains unresolved, leaving us yearning for an innovative solution.
This is where Aplós functional spirits enter the scene, a luxurious beacon amidst the desolate sands of alcohol-induced dehydration. Our pair of sophisticated and functional, non-alcoholic spirits, Aplós Calme and Aplós Arise, presents a unique answer to this universal problem.
Artfully crafted and imbued with functional botanicals, these elixirs are steeped in wellness, standing at the crossroads where nature's enchantment intertwines with scientific ingenuity. Unfurling into slow pleasures, they guide you through a balanced sensory journey, one where you can savor pleasure without surrendering to the arid aftermath of dehydration.
Aplós Calme, with its bright blend of citrus and herbal botanicals, invites moments of serenity. Infused with broad-spectrum hemp, Calme is like a gentle lullaby that uplifts without the negative and dehydrating effects of alcohol.
Aplós Arise, with its bold, earthy blend, is crafted for moments of revelry. This spirit is infused with adaptogens, botanicals known to support our bodies in managing stress. Much like its sister spirit, Arise elevates without the jarring descent of alcohol.
These functional spirits offer an experience similar to alcohol, mirroring the euphoria and tranquility without the arid aftermath of dehydration or the bleak dawn of a hangover. Aplós allows the rivulets of joy to flow freely, unmarred by the regret of overindulgence.
To partake in an Aplós beverage is to engage in a sensorial experience as evocative as a sun-dappled forest or a moonlit ocean. It's a journey of aroma and taste, where each sip is a step deeper into a world of elevated experiences, a gentle voyage unblemished by dehydration's arid tug.
Our nonalcoholic spirits beckon us to slow down, to truly savor the moments that stitch together the tapestry of our lives. It’s an invitation to relish in the dance of the sun upon the water, the whispering of leaves in the wind, and the harmonious symphony of a starlit night.
Let's envision a future where our glasses brim with the enchanting potion of functional spirits, where our flowing, life-sustaining rivers within our bodies aren't ravaged by alcohol but instead nourished and celebrated. With Aplós, this future isn't a distant mirage shimmering on the horizon but a tangible reality within arm's reach, just a sip away.
Sources:
Vasopressin - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Mechanism of Dehydration Following Alcohol Ingestion | JAMA Internal Medicine
Dehydration Headache: Dehydration Symptoms & Types of Headaches | Cleveland Clinic
Alcohol’s Effects on the Cardiovascular System | PMC
Dehydration affects brain structure and function in healthy adolescents | PMC