Summer is right around the corner, and with it comes a lot of fun outdoor activities, all of which can lead to dehydration if you are not paying attention!
Water is a vital element in our lives. Without it, the body can’t function properly. When the weather gets warm, excessive loss of water can quickly cause dehydration to occur.
Let’s start with what dehydration actually is:
Dehydration refers to loss of water that affects the body. In hot weather or at any time, the body uses just as much water as it takes in. That is why water intake is so critical to your daily diet.
How does the body lose water?
Metabolic processes like cellular repair and cellular respiration require water. Each cell bathes in it. Excretion of bodily waste products through urination causes a loss of water as well. However, the quickest way that we lose water from the body is through perspiration or sweat.
When you are out in the hot weather, the body sweats to cool itself off. Water escapes the body through the skin. Here it evaporates cooling the tissues below. It may not feel like you are cooling off when water is dripping from your body, but have someone blow across your skin. Feel it now?
Most of the time when you are thirsty, you are already feeling the effects of dehydration.
Signs of Dehydration:
Light-headedness
Dark urine
Loss of appetite
Heat intolerance
Dry cough
Fatigue
How Can you Avoid Dehydration And Get Enough Water?
Well, first, it is important to know how much water you should be consuming! In order to avoid dehydration, we should be drinking half of our body weight in water. For instance, if you weigh 100 pounds, you should be drinking 50 ounces of water every day.
Tips To Help You Stay Hydrated:
Drink water all day. I like to keep a bottle with me all day. I refill it throughout the day. Drinking water only during heavy activity doesn’t account for any deficiencies you already had during the day. Once you start to sweat you could create a deficit rather quickly. Getting in the habit of drinking water regularly is the best way to ensure you are always hydrated.
Wear loose-fitting, light clothing during physical activity. In the heat, dark clothing can attract more heat. Light, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics can minimize water loss through sweat. It can also pull moisture away from your body so that you can stay cooler.
Avoid soda, energy drinks, and alcohol. These only increase thirst. More water is actually pulled from your system when you drink these types of beverages. They may taste good, and they may seem like they are quenching your thirst, however, they are actually contributing to possible dehydration. Drink clean fresh water eery chance you get.
Dehydration is a serious matter. Whether it is hot or you are exercising a lot, replace that lost water with more water on a consistent basis to stay healthy.
