Water is life.
That’s basically true for your gut, too. Proper hydration helps with a number of things, including:
- Digestion and absorption of nutrients, both of which take place in your gut.
- Bowel movements. “Fluid acts as a lubricant, helping you to eliminate waste more effectively,” explains Dr. Laster.
- Microbial balance. “It helps to sustain the diversity of bugs in your gut, preventing dysbiosis or ‘harmful’ bacteria from overgrowing.”
Drinking water can impact the levels of certain gut bacteria.
For example, Campylobacter, a bacterial strain linked to gastrointestinal infection.
One study found that people who drink enough water have a lower abundance of this bacterial strain.
But just how much water is enough?
