Most people understand that you suffer from dehydration when you don’t drink enough fluid. However, while that is very true, it’s not the only way it can happen. Here are six reasons why you are dehydrated that you probably didn’t know about.
Getting Old
The older you get, the less thirsty you will feel. Your body also becomes less able to hold water, and the combination of both means that aging people get dehydrated much easier than younger folks. It’s important to keep a check on your water intake as you get older, so get into the habit of drinking small amounts regularly. According to doctors at the Pearland Medical Clinic, dehydration can result in emergency treatment. It is also important, then, to make a note of how many glasses you are drinking to ensure you are taking enough.
Stress
Stress can cause dehydration, so make yourself aware of the signs to combat it when you are feeling under pressure. When you are feeling stressed, stress hormones are released from your adrenal glands. This also produces a fluid- and electrolyte-regulating hormone called aldosterone. The adrenal glands get tired because of its extra workload, meaning production of all hormones dips – and you get dehydrated.
Not Enough Fruit & Vegetables
Fruit and vegetables are foods with a very high water content – half a plate can give you enough fluid to fill a couple of small glasses of water. So not only will fruit and veg give you all their nutrients, but they will also boost your water intake for the day – and if you aren’t eating enough, you will need to drink more.
No Carbs
Wherever you store water in your body, you also store carbohydrates. This is why when you stop eating carbs, you lose more weight – because a lot of that weight is just water. And when water leaves the body? Yep – you get dehydrated. Also, the very nature of carb foods is that they soak up water, so by the time you are eating them, you are almost drinking them, too.
Drinking Other Liquids
You might think that any fluid you drink will count towards your 90 to 125 or so ounces recommended by the experts. But you would be wrong. Sugars, caffeine, alcohol and many other substances found in drinks other than water actually require fluid to be processed and filtered in the body. That means you will need to drink even more water to keep yourself topped up.
Workouts
When you are working up a sweat during a workout, you are losing water. While many of us think we are replacing those lost fluids afterward, is it really enough? If you are working out several times a week, then over time you are going to lose fluids – and that could lead to dehydration creeping up on you. Try weighing yourself after your exercise, and for every pound you have lost, you should be drinking at least 16 oz of water. That’s around two medium sized glasses for every pound.
Drinking plenty of water will keep the dangers of dehydration at bay. If you have any tips on staying hydrated, we would love to hear them – so get in touch!
