Is water enough to hydrate you?
Or rather
Is modern water enough to keep you hydrated?
You drink a lot of water and still feel thirsty; it means you are not hydrating properly.
If you live on planet Earth, you must have faced a similar situation.
Let’s understand why this happens by understanding the science of hydration.
What is hydration?
Hydration refers to providing your body with the necessary fluids, primarily water, to function optimally.
The Science of Hydration
Your body needs water (fluids) to function properly. Many functions of the body, including:
- Prevent Infections
- Lubrication of the joints
- Regulate body temperature
- Delivering nutrients to the cells
- Flushing out waste from the kidneys
- Helping in the functioning of the digestive system
The important functions can only be done when there is a sufficient amount of fluid present in your body.
Benefits of Hydration
Good Hydration can prevent:
- Dry Skin
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Kidney Stones
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Too much thickening of the blood
When your body does not have enough fluids it leads to dehydration.
Dehydration
When there are low levels of fluid present in your body, it’s called dehydration.
Even a small drop in fluids present in your body, you may experience headaches, lethargy, dry mouth, and poor concentration.
What causes dehydration
Excessive Training
Training for long durations or intense training makes you sweat a lot, which leads to loss of fluids in the body if you don’t refuel your body with good water content.
Low Water Consumption
Not consuming enough water throughout the day.
Other reasons for dehydration can be due to illnesses, vomiting and certain medications that may make you urinate frequently.
Signs of Dehydration – How Hydrated Are You?
Dehydration shows up in many forms, such as dry lips, feeling thirsty, dry eyes, feeling dizzy, poor focus and much more.
How to stay hydrated without harming your body.
Don’t Overhydrate
Drinking a lot of water in one go makes the water you just consumed get out of the system in a quick time. Instead you need to make sure you drink when you are thirsty but also how you drink water matters.
Never chug water. Instead, sip the water to avoid the quick passing of water from your system.
Drinking too much water can thin the blood and reduce electrolytes from your body.
What makes you hydrated?
True hydration is simple to achieve but many individuals aren’t aware about the sources of quality hydration.
Natural Fluids
Hydration can be achieved through natural fluids like:
- Milk
- Water
- Coconut water
- Natural fruit juices
- Homemade lemonade
Focus on Electrolytes
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and more are key players that make you feel hydrated. The electrolytes help your cells to absorb water giving you true hydration.
Eat your way through hydration.
Your water intake can also come from foods.
Consume foods rich in water content, such as watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges. These foods are rich in water content and also contain electrolytes. Foods with fluids are beneficial to get more fluid from your overall diet.
Conclusion
Hydration is simple. Get your water intake through natural sources and consume in the correct manner.
Make sure to – Drink water slowly.
Eat water through foods that contain a lot of water content.
Consume electrolytes through natural sources to help your cells absorb the water and give your body true hydration.
