A very serious issue that can affect people of any age is dehydration. Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in, leaving your body with insufficient amounts to carry out its normal functions. We tend to think that dehydration will always display extreme outward signs. But the fact is, there are many indicators of dehydration, which we may miss out on.
Thirst isn’t always a reliable early sign of the body’s need for water. Many people do not feel thirsty until they’re already dehydrated. This is why it is vital to increase water intake during hot weather — especially if you are exercising vigorously. Your body is approximately 60 percent water, which helps regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. The amount of water you need depends on a variety of factors, including the climate you live in, how physically active you are and so on.
Few signs of dehydration are:
- Colour of your urine:
This one is the easiest to track and the most obvious sign. The darker (yellow) your urine, the more dehydrated you are. Pale straw colour urine is a sign of a well hydrated body.
- Feeling moody or having trouble focusing
Even mild dehydration can affect your mood, making it difficult to concentrate. Your brain is sensitive to changes in your body’s fluids and may react to low hydration with mood changes.
- Bad breath
Dehydration can cause a dry mouth owing to lower saliva being produced. As a result, bacteria in the mouth increase, leading to bad breath. Drinking more water is the key to combating this.
- Sudden food cravings
When you are dehydrated, you may find yourself with sudden food cravings. This is because your body finds it difficult to draw glycogen (energy) from its stores. It then signals that it needs fuel, which is when you can get sudden cravings, especially for sweet foods.
Sure, this is just one of the reasons for food cravings. But a way to tackle this is having a glass of water and observing how your body feels after.
- Headaches
Mild dehydration can cause a dehydration headache and even trigger a migraine headache. Since the cause for headaches can be varied, it is advisable to drink a glass of water and continue to sip water all day to ease your pain, if dehydration is actually contributing to it.
Just some of the reasons you need to drink water:
- Keeps You Feeling Full
Drinking water through the day can help to keep you full because you don’t constantly snack. Many times, our body signals for food, when we are just a little dehydrated.
- Keeps You Energised
Lack of water is the number one cause of fatigue. This makes you feel lazy and makes it even more difficult to concentrate.
- Removes Toxins
Water helps to remove the toxins in our bodies. It plays a vital role in transporting nutrients through our bloodstream and flushing out toxins.
- Helps Muscle Recovery
When your muscles lack fluids, they won’t perform well and your workouts can suffer. It is important to be hydrated while working out. Increase your water intake few hours before you start exercising. Remember to sip water during your workout and hydrate yourself well post workout, so you can replace sweat you have lost.
A small tip to avoid dehydration: Carry your water bottle with you wherever you go. This will ensure you are continuously hydrating yourself and avoid the risk of dehydration.
