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Avoid These Foods When You're Dehydrated

By Sara Butler

When it's hot outside your body needs more water to help it work at its very best. When your body uses more fluid than you're taking in, that's called dehydration. But dehydration isn't something that happens because you don't drink enough water, it can also happen when you drink or eat certain things. Some foods and beverages have a diuretic effect, which means they encourage your body to get rid of fluids. To make sure you're staying hydrated, here are a few foods and drinks you should avoid.

Soda

It might feel refreshing to sip on your favorite soda on hot summer's day, but the sugar in sodas, even diet drinks, can have an effect on your body that leads to dehydration. The process is called hypernatremia and it's where your body depletes its fluids by drawing it away to use in its own tissues. Add in the fact that the caffeine in soda is a diuretic and you're on your way to Dehydration City.

Coconut Water

Don't be fooled by the fact that there's water in the name of this drink. A lot of varieties of coconut water has a lot of sugar -- and sugar can deplete your body of water. Studies have actually found that coconut water isn't as hydrating as regular water, so don't believe the hype that this is the perfect post-workout beverage.

Fruit Juice

While some fruits naturally contain a lot of water and are hydrating (here's looking at you, watermelon), commercial fruit juices can dehydrate you. That's because they're high in carbohydrates, which can make dehydration symptoms worse and upset your stomach. If you want fruit, then go with actual fruit, not the juice.

Asparagus

Asparagus has a tendency to do strange things to your body fluids, including making you need to go to the restroom more often. This is due to an amino acid in asparagus that encourages your body to release water. This doesn't mean you need to give asparagus the heave-ho from your diet, but simply that when it's really hot outside you should supplement with a bit more water when you're throwing some asparagus on the grill.

High Protein Foods

If you're hitting protein hard in an effort to build muscle or follow a certain way of eating, then you need to be careful not to get dehydrated. Studies have found that people who eat high-protein diets have abnormal kidney function. Since your kidneys help to filter your body fluids, then it's important to remember to up your normal fluid intake if you tend to eat a lot of protein.

Staying hydrated is important, especially when it's hot outside. That's why you should watch what you eat so you don't dehydrate yourself even more.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Buford, Ga.

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