Seventy-five percent ofbrAmericans experience mild chronic dehydration, meaning for one reason orbranother, Americans are not getting enough fluids. Chances are we've heard sincebrchildhood that it's important to drink plenty of water (thanks Mom), but howbrmany of us have ever wondered why?
Consider this: More thanbrhalf of your body is made up of water. Think of water as the fuel that keepsbryour body's engine running. All of your body's systems, including your heart,brlungs and even brain, need fluids to keep them moving and running properly.brWater aids in digesting food, removing waste, pumping blood throughout thebrbody, fighting off illness, building tissue, strengthening muscles and regulatingbrbody temperature. Without enough water, your body systems can begin to shutbrdown, putting your own survival at risk.
Since water is so crucialbrto our health, it's important to be able to recognize when our bodies arebrexperiencing dehydration. Common symptoms of dehydration include headache,brdizziness, fatigue, faintness and – no surprise – thirst. And while thirst canbrremind us to drink more, don't rely on it to stay hydrated. By the time thirstbrsets in, your body is already too low on fluids. A better way to preventbrdehydration is to pay attention to the color of your urine. Just remember:brclear or light and you've done it right, amber or dark and you've missed thebrmark.
To stay hydrated, it isbroften recommended to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. While this canbrbe a good metric, the amount of water each person needs is different dependingbron factors like sweat rate, weather and physical activity. As summer kicks inbrand temperatures heat up, remember that those outdoor activities and time inbrthe sun will use up your body's water sources more quickly. Stay hydrated!brDrink extra. Your body will thank you for it.
If staying hydrated is abrstruggle for you, try some of these easy tips to help increase your fluidbrintake:
1. Eat morebrfruits and veggies! Cucumber, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower,brand watermelon are all great sources of water.
2. Startbryour morning with tea, coffee, or milk. Even though caffeine is a diuretic, itbrdoesn't discount the fluids you take in.
3. Staybrahead of dehydration. Drink water before exercising or going outside.
4. Sip onbrwater throughout the day instead of chugging all at once. Keep a water bottlebron you for easy access.
5. Drink abrglass of water when you wake up.
6. Addbrfruit to your water for a natural flavor boost.
7. Weighbryourself before and after exercising. Weight loss after a workout means fluidbrloss. To prevent dehydration in the future, make sure to drink three cupsbrthroughout your workout for every pound lost.
Once youbrstart incorporating more water into your daily routine, it won't take long tobrnotice the incredible benefits to your overall wellbeing. Because water intakebraffects the brain, staying hydrated can help you think more clearly, rememberbrbetter, and stay more alert. Water can help you look better too! Getting enoughbrfluids helps prevent wrinkles and keeps your skin healthy and glowing. Forbrthose who enjoy being active and working out, water will improve your athleticbrperformance, help build muscle, and prevent cramping. And if you're trying tobrlose weight, try drinking a glass of water instead of going for seconds. Fluidsbrcan help your body better recognize when you're full and suppress yourbrappetite.
Enjoy your time outdoorsbrthis summer, but remember to drink plenty of fluids and stay ahead ofbrdehydration. If you believe you or a family member may be experiencing symptomsbrof dehydration during your summer activities, the doctors and nurses at Complete Care are available 24/7 to provide expert care and get you back to feeling yourbrbest. Come see us anytime; we’ll make sure you get in, get out, and get back tobrsummer life.
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