Human beings need water to survive. No matter the circumstances, there is just no alternative for this. Imagine the brutal discomfort you feel when suffering from dehydration! The problems associated with lack of water consumption are, at times, so lethal, that the body might stop functioning altogether. From acute headaches to feeling nauseated, dehydration can cause it all - and more!
Knowing the right methods to hydrate yourself can go a long way in keeping healthy, and avoid related diseases. By staying properly hydrated, you will experience an increase in work efficiency and overall productivity. Even when you wake up in the morning, being hydrated can make you feel fresh and active, instead of feeling tired and groggy. This article focuses mainly on the importance of hydration and the ways to keep yourself hydrated.
The Importance of Hydration
Human beings can not survive without water. In fact, approximately 60% of our bodies consist of water! Thus, it is crucial to understand the importance of water consumption to stay healthy, and alive. Below is a list of reasons why hydration is so important.
- Water regulates the overall temperature of the body and helps in sustaining safe limits.
- Water helps in food digestion and keeps the alimentary canal or digestive tract smooth.
- The brain starts to lose its functionality when the body lacks water.
- Water keeps the internal joints in the body strong and lubricated.
- All the essential fluids in the body, like saliva, tears, and sweat, are created with water.
- Water is needed to keep the skin in good condition and prevent early aging.
- Urine and stool mainly consist of water. In fact, there are many urinary and fecal diseases associated with dehydration.
- Water helps in giving relief to irritation from sneezing and coughing.
- The abundance of water prevents harmful bacteria and viruses that cause disease from entering the cells in our body.
- Hydration removes fatigue and makes the person energetic and dynamic.
- Water helps in weight loss. At times, although you might feel hungry, it can be the lack of water causing it. Drinking water can satisfy your hunger and keep your body weight in check in the process.
- Water can prevent headaches and severe cases of migraines.
How much water should I drink per day?
We've covered this topic in a previous article. It's not just about how much water you drink. The 2-3 liters per day is a misconception and will differ day by day depending on your actictivities (work, sport, beach, etc) and weather. Therefore it's important to do a combination of things to stay hydrated.
5 Tips to Stay Hydrated
While it is important to learn the importance of hydration, it will not benefit us unless we practice it. Below is 5 tops to help you stay hydrated.
1. Eat a Lot of Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are a great source of hydration due to their general constituents. Most fruits consist of more than 80% of water. Regular snack items like biscuits and chips contain less than 10%. That is a big difference! Hence, it is beneficial to consume fruits and vegetables during snack time, instead of dry, processed food. Some fruits contain an abundance of water like melons, grapes, oranges, berries, mangos, strawberries, peaches, pineapples, and so on. Water-rich vegetables include spinach, carrots, cabbages, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, etc.
It is a great idea to eat a few slices of watermelon instead of munching on cookies during a lazy afternoon. In fact, these fruits and veggies contain a significantly more nutritional value which benefits the human body in various ways, than factory-processed dry food.
2. Drink lots of tap water
Despite the misconception about water consumption you cannot go wrong by drinking 2-3 liters of water per day. Worst case you need to visit the bathroom a bit more frequently. Make sure it's tap or filtered water as this is generally healthier than bottled water.
Make your life easier by purchasing a water filter if you do not already have one. This way, you can get safe water with ease, which makes it more convenient to prepare these alternative drinks.
3. Make sure your A/C is working when it's hot
Summertime is when the body loses the most water - especially through profuse sweating. Thus, it is a great idea to get the AC services repaired, if needed, before the summer heatwaves start hitting. If you are based in the US you can check out frameworksservices.com/ac-repair-near-me for a complete guide to AC repairs, and get professional help if required. These experts can inspect the HVAC system of your house for any faults, and provide the necessary information that you need. Get your faulty air conditioning appliances ready for the summer if you want to stay comfortable and hydrated during this time. Keeping the A/C maintained will also save on energy costs and thus the environment.
4. Let the Weather Determine Your Attire
Wearing heavy clothes while the sun is blazing above your head is not the wisest idea. Your choice of attire can greatly contribute to the loss of water. Try wearing loose, thin clothes that allow decent amounts of air circulation. In fact, the color of your dress also plays an important part in keeping you hydrated. Light colors tend to reflect most of the sun’s rays off the surface and do not absorb it all. Dark colors, however, absorb the sun’s rays - heating the clothes fast.
Wear a hat to prevent your head from overheating, which also keeps the hair healthy. Sweat can accumulate at the bottom of hair follicles which contributes to hair fall. Sunblocks are known to help in keeping the skin cool and prevent sunburn. Try using them to prevent your body from heating up and sweating in the process.
5. Try Alternative Drinks
To prevent dehydration, water is crucial. However, drinking too much water can become undesirable after some time. In such cases, you can always go for alternative drinks like infused water, tea, coffee, milkshakes, fruit juices, soups, and broths, etc. All that the body needs is water during dehydration - regardless of the form, it is in.
However, some drinks enhance dehydration instead of hydrating your body. Examples include most alcohol beverages. It is best to avoid these drinks if you are trying to rehydrate your body.
Wrapping Up - how to stay hydrated
The massive growth in global consumption of bottled water proves one very important fact: water consumption is on the rise! Go see a doctor, or take guidance from a professional - they will say the same. Water drives our bodies in so many ways that its importance can never be overstated. Thus, it is wise to stay properly hydrated at all times. Try to stick to tap water or filtered tap water if you can.
Follow our guidelines, and we believe you won't have to suffer the pain of dehydration anytime soon.
