Our body requires water for survival as it plays an important role for every tissue, cell, and organ function. Water is used to regulate our temperature, maintaining the lubrication of our joints, and even removing waste products too. Unfortunately, not everyone is drinking the recommended amount of water per day which is one of the reasons why they are experiencing signs and symptoms of dehydration such as:
- Dry mouth and thirst
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Constipation
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Dry skin
- Headache
The recommended amount of water that we should be drinking each day is 6 to 8 glasses of 8 ounce water or more depending on how active or how much you sweat. Some will need more than 8 glasses of water especially when they sweat a lot while others can function normally with just 6 glasses of water. Either way, the goal here is to ensure that we are drinking enough fluids to avoid the effects of dehydration.
Sources of Hydration
Water is usually the first source of hydration that we should keep in mind, but this doesn’t mean that there are no other options out there. Of course, there are certain drinks and foods that can contribute to the cause, but they may also come with extra calories that can add to your weight. Milk, vegetable and fruit juices, as well as herbal teas may help increase the amount of water in your system, as well as caffeinated drinks. However, keep in mind that soda, coffee, tea, and other beverages may have some sugar in them that can also add to your weight.
Aside from the drinks mentioned above, there are certain types of foods that can also contribute to keeping your body properly nourished and hydrated such as:
Watermelon
This summer fruit contains up to 90% of water which can give that refreshing feeling to your body. Not only that, watermelon is also loaded with vitamins and minerals that come from its flesh which can improve your overall health.
Cucumber
Cucumber is a favorite addition in salads because of the extra crunch that it gives to the salad. Aside from that, cukes have been found to help with hydration too because of the water that it contains. You can slice some cucumber and eat them as is or make a smoothie out of it with raw organic honey to sweeten it up a bit.
Bone broth
Bone broth may not only help hydrate your body, but it also contains several vitamins and minerals that can have a positive effect to your overall health. You’ve probably thought of having some bone broth when you are sick which is not surprising because this hearty meal is loaded with nutrients and hydration that do wonders to your body.
Possible Treatments for Dehydration
In the event that you find yourself missing on fluid intake because of an illness or you just forgot to drink, these treatments may help you get back on your feet in no time.
Oral rehydration salts
Doctors will recommend oral rehydration salts if you are diagnosed with dehydration. This is due to the fact that these salts come with potassium as well as electrolytes that can help speed up your body’s recovery period.
Fluid replenishment
Aside from the oral rehydration salts, it is best that you hydrate yourself with water and plant-based foods like the ones mentioned above to get more fluids into your system.
Rest
Getting dehydrated is not a good feeling to be sure, because you will not be able to function properly. That said, you will need plenty of rest at this point to restore yourself to your natural condition.
