As promised, this week, we’ll get into the definition of Dehydration and Tips on Staying Hydrated for the Summer and beyond.
(Learn to Love Water!!)
Dehydration happens when you lose more fluid than you drink, usually due to exercise, disease, or extremely high environmental temperature. When your body does not have enough water, it cannot work properly. Dehydration can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of dehydration can include:
- Dizziness or lightheaded feeling
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Dry mouth
- Sleepiness or fatigue
- Extreme thirst
- Headache
- Lack of sweating
- Hard, fast heartbeat
- Little or no urine, or urine that is darker than usual
- No tears when crying
- Confusion
- Mental deterioration; Loss of consciousness
- Death
You should NOT wait until you notice symptoms of dehydration to take action. Actively prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of water before, during, and after you are active. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and stop working outdoors or exercising, if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or extremely tired.
With the advent of the hottest month of our calendar year, let’s stay hydrated and healthy.
Great Tips for Staying Hydrated:
- Keep a bottle of water with you during the day. Purchasing bottled water is expensive and creates plastic bottle waste, so carry a reusable water bottle and refill it instead.
- f you don’t like the taste of plain water, try adding a slice of lemon, lime, or cucumber to your drink.
- As stated before, be sure to drink water before, during, and after a workout.
- If you have trouble remembering to drink water, drink on a schedule. For example, drink water when you wake up; at breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and when you go to bed. That can ensure at least 5 times out of your day that you have stopped for water.
- Drink water when you go to a restaurant. It will keep you hydrated, and it’s free!
- Drink water when you are feeling hungry. Thirst is often confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight-loss plan by making you feel full…but we’ll tackle more on that topic at another time.
Now some of you may be asking, “Besides water, what else can I consume to stay hydrated?”
Next week, we’ll talk about the difference between Sports drinks and Energy drinks…Stay tuned…I hope to keep you healthy!
