Dehydration and Dehydration Symptoms

Are You Dehydrated?  And Would You Know?

Did you know that we can survive longer without food, than without water? Water is critically important in our lives – and dehydration is a serious problem around the world.

Of course, we all know we need to drink water – but how much? And why? And what happens when you don’t get enough water and you become dehydrated?

Read on for a great tip – a really easy way you can check (every day if you wish) to see if you are suffering from dehydration.

Plus, some easy ways to get more water – even if you don’t like drinking it!

Let’s look first at dehydration symptoms – what happens when you don’t drink enough water.

Dehydration Symptoms

Dehydration can be mild or severe.  Both can lead to health issues.

For example, water normally “flushes” out toxins and pollutants from your body. If you don’t drink enough water, you could become ill from that build-up.

(So you see, drinking water is green and eco friendly as well as healthy, because it helps to remove toxins!).

When you are mildly dehydrated, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Persistent fatigue or tiredness
• Digestive disturbances
• Headaches
• Dry skin
• Dry hair
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Light-headedness

Most people say “drink 8 glasses of water a day” – but what size glass? And it’s actually slightly different for everyone, depending on your size, gender, health and diet, as well as the climate you live in. I’ll show you how to find out what’s right for YOU.

But first, here’s how to relieve dehydration symptoms.

How To Relieve Dehydration Symptoms

Mild to moderate dehydration can be relieved by drinking water (of course!).

You might also consider a medicinal drink such as an oral rehydration solution which contains electrolytes. These are made with boiling water which helps if you may be susceptible to digestive issues, diarrhea or vomiting.

Commercial sports drinks may also contain electrolytes and these can be taken if the medical drinks are not available.

Severe Dehydration Symptoms

More serious symptoms indicating severe dehydration, however, need immediate medical attention, and you should go to the nearest emergency room or call for an ambulance.

For example, you might have:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Dry mouth and dry mucous membranes
• Extreme irritability
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure
• Little or no urination
• Sunken eyes
• Shriveled, inelastic skin
• Rapid breathing
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

An Easy Check for Dehydration (Great Tip!)

Just because you’re thirsty, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dehydrated!

Here’s a great tip: Check the colour of your urine.

• If it’s light-coloured or clear, you’re drinking enough water.
• However, if your urine is dark yellow, then you need to drink a lot more water.

It’s Not Only About Water!

We get water from more than just water!

Many foods also contain water.

And that’s good news if you’re not a fan of plain water, because you can increase your water consumption by eating fresh,  healthy foods of the right type, for example:

• Citrus fruits (oranges (all types), lemons, grapefruits, limes, clementines, yuzu etc.)
• Watermelon
• Tomatoes
• Cantaloupe or melon
• Celery
• Greens
• Lettuce

And green tea is another super way to consume water together with lots of healthy antioxidants.

Another Great Way To Take in More Water

Do you enjoy juices and smoothies?

They’re another great way to get more water – as well as fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables – into your diet every day.

Just be careful how you choose juices and smoothies though. Store-bought ones often contain added syrups and sugars as well as other additives.

It’s always best to make your own – then you know exactly what goes into them.

I buy my fresh fruit and veg for the week ahead and then spend about an hour peeling and chopping everything so it’s ready for use. Then when I want a smoothie or juice, it’s quick to take everything I need out of the fridge and pop it straight into the blender or juicer – easy peasy!

Or of course, you can buy frozen fruit and vegetables, peeled and chopped, ready-to-use.

Fruit-Infused Water

Another great way to enjoy more water is to drink fruit-infused water instead of plain. But try not to buy the commercial bottles. Why? Well, for a start they often come in nasty single-use plastic bottles (very un-green), but often they also contain additives which are not healthy.

For example, some flavoured waters may be “sugar free” or “zero” but many of them contain aspartame instead (a highly controversial ingredient often linked to cancer).

Instead, save yourself a small fortune and make your own – it couldn’t be easier! Simply put clean water into a pitcher or jug, add a few slices of fresh fruit, and put it in the refrigerator.  Fresh-tasting, healthy and flavoursome water straight from your own fridge with no effort and almost no cost.

Foods That Make Dehydration Worse

If you’re already mildly dehydrated, then you’ll be wise to avoid these foods and beverages:

• French fries, chips or crisps
• Cured meats such as sliced ham, bacon, salami
• Coffee (a natural diuretic)
• Bouillon or stock cubes
• Soft drinks or sodas such as cola
• Alcohol

And of course when you’re exercising, you’ll want to keep well hydrated because sweating removes moisture from our bodies.

Keep Drinking Throughout The Day – Then Stop

Make water, flavoured water or juices and smoothies easily available to you throughout the day, so that it’s no effort to fetch more.

Then reduce the amount you drink in the evenings, especially 2-3 hours before you go to bed, so that you don’t have to get up during the night.

Remember……

It’s not just about drinking plain water. There are lots of ways to get enough water into your system.

Regularly check the color of your urine to make sure you are drinking enough water.

Water is a “nutrient” that cannot be ignored when it comes to good health.

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Have you been dehydrated? How have you solved it? Let me know in the comments below.

Warm regards,

P.S.  Don’t forget to download your FREE juicing and smoothies recipe book here!

Related:

• 5 Reasons You Need Lemon Water Today
• US cities face water shortages – are you at risk?
• What’s your “water footprint” – how much water do you eat?