Did you know that if we feel thirsty, we are already dehydrated?
According to a study by New York Hospital and Cornell Medical Center, 75% of their 3003 subjects were chronically dehydrated. And since hydration affects our heart, blood pressure, pulse, digestion, temperature, and all of our other organs, it’s something that we should be better at maintaining than we currently are.
We know that we all need to drink more water, but when, and how else can we improve our fluid intake during the day that makes it easier for the average American to drink more water. Since we’re located in Southlake, TX we also want to provide special care into helping our community stay hydrated despite the Texas heat and humidity.
How Our Bodies Lose Water
There are many ways we lose water throughout the day. It’s important to be mindful of these to ensure you’re adequately replenishing your body with water.
- Perspiration – This is the primary issue for people that spend time outside in Texas. Summers in Southlake, TX can reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit and 70% humidity causing excessive perspiration (which increases dramatically when exercising)
- Urination – We all urinate, and you can typically tell how your kidneys are doing at cleansing your body by the color of the urine. It should be clear!
- Breathing – We exhale small amounts of water naturally
- Stress – Being overly stressed causes your adrenal glands to be exhausted which then dehydrates the body
- Drinks – Many drinks and even food can be diuretics causing our bodies to lose water faster
- Breastfeeding – Requires a woman to drink an additional 2 cups of water daily
- Irritable bowel syndrome – This and other gastrointestinal health problems can cause additional dehydration
The Top Signs of Dehydration
If you experience any of the following symptoms, dehydration may be playing a role:
- Excessive thirst and dry mouth are usually the most obvious signs of dehydration and are signals that should not be ignored.
- Dark urine is another sign of dehydration. When well-hydrated, your urine should be pale yellow.
- Fatigue is a common symptom that has many different causes, but you may be surprised to hear that dehydration can be one.
- Dry, flaky skin is a sign of long-term dehydration. Drinking plenty of water keeps the blood supply to your skin flowing, resulting in a healthy complexion.
- Headaches are another very common sign of dehydration, so try drinking a glass of water next time you feel one coming on.
How to Stay Hydrated Besides Drinking Water
It’s important to drink several glasses of water each day, but if drinking another glass sounds a little too flavorless, try adding more of these 8 water-rich foods to your diet:
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Cantaloupe
- Oranges
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Celery
- Milk
Hydrate to Improve Health
Water is vital to our overall health and to our individual organs. It’s essential to stay hydrated to function at full capacity and stay healthy. In fact, if you haven’t had a chance, check out our article on why it’s important to stay hydrated after your chiropractic adjustment.
Have you had a glass of water recently? Go grab one now!
