Just walk into any store these days and go into the “home-wares” department – you will find multiple choices for “water transport.” It’s a hot topic for a reason. More and more people have become aware of how important it is to stay hydrated.
Water is magic to our bodies, and, since our body is actually more than half water, it is without a doubt, the best fluid you can give your body to hydrate it.
Truth is, every cell within the body requires water to work correctly. Removing wastes, lubricating your joints and maintaining correct body temperature are all reliant on being properly hydrated. Additionally, in a well-hydrated body, the heart will not have to work as hard.
How Your Body Loses Water:
When you urinate and sweat you lose water. You also lose water by breathing, when physically active, running a fever or when the weather is really hot. If you do not consistently replace this loss of fluid by drinking water you will soon find your body in the dangerous state of dehydration, one of the worst conditions you can get your body into. If you find yourself resonating with any of the below symptoms, you area already dehydrated.
Symptoms of dehydration:
Dry mouth
Fatigue and feeling tired
Extreme thirst
Headache
Feeling light-headed or dizzy
Lack of tears when crying
Dehydration can also cause mental confusion and if severe enough, the loss of consciousness.
It is admirable that people are adopting healthier lifestyles. They are paying attention to their bodies and exercising more…however, along with getting proper exercise (especially if exercising outdoors) is getting enough fluids into the body to account for any loss of fluid when exercising. For every pound of sweat lost when exercising, one pint of water will be needed in order to replenish these lost fluids.
Those experiencing medical conditions, pregnancy, spend time outside in hot weather, are running a fever or experiencing a bout of diarrhea or vomiting need to increase the amount of water taken to avoid dehydration. Seniors should also drink more water because their bodies may not sense that they are dehydrated and their brains may not send the signal that it is thirsty.
Sports drinks that also include electrolytes are beneficial for those doing high intensity workouts in hot weather…however they also contain added sodium, sugars and calories that must be accounted for. And, don’t confuse “sports drinks” with “energy drinks”…they are not the same thing.
Sugary drinks such as soda and sugary fruit drinks are a no-no too. They are actually hard on the stomach when your body is dehydrated and should be avoided. Drinks with caffeine are diuretic in nature and cause a loss of fluids so these should also be avoided after exercising when your job is to replace fluids.
How much water should I drink daily?
For the most part, most healthy people stay hydrated simply by drinking when their bodies ask for it and they feel thirsty. A general rule is 6 – 8 eight ounce glasses of water daily. But bear in mind that everyone is different so it’s important to pay attention to your body’s signals and any symptoms of dehydration you may be experiencing and address it immediately by drinking more water.
Tips to stay hydrated:
Keep water with you. If possible, avoid buying plastic bottles because of the waste it creates. Opt for a reusable water bottle – they are cheap and easily found in most stores.
Drink water before, during and after your workout.
When feeling hunger pangs try drinking water first. Drinking water contributes to a healthy weight loss routine too and helps you to feel full.
Create a schedule. If drinking water randomly throughout the day does not seem to be working for you then create a “drink schedule” for yourself and drink a glass of water at the beginning or end of each hour.
Most important – you do not wait until you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration before taking action. Be proactive now. You can avoid this damaging condition by drinking plenty of water.
“Healthy Self Healing” can help you do just that…
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