Want Great Health? Stay Hydrated!
By Donna Stark
Summer typically means spending our days and nights outdoors enjoying all sorts of activities with loved ones. But it can also mean overexposure to the sun and potentially dangerous situations. It’s extremely important to stay hydrated in the summer, especially if you are planning to be outside in the heat for extended periods of time. Excessive exposure to the heat can cause your body to become dehydrated, which can lead to serious conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Hydration can be a tricky topic because you never really know how quickly your body can fail if you aren’t drinking the proper amounts of water -- and that can be confusing because you may not feel dehydrated until it’s too late.
Water, Water, Water
It can’t be said enough. Your body needs water to not only function optimally, but to simply function. Besides the life or death scenarios of being dehydrated, there are some other reasons why you may want to keep that bottle of water close by. Let’s take a look.
- Digestive health - Without proper hydration, your digestive system can really start to struggle. The properties responsible for breaking down food are primarily made from water, so if your body doesn’t receive the hydration it needs, it can lead to indigestion and acid reflux.
- Hunger and cravings - Has your pantry become your secret rendezvous spot in the house? Your hunger may actually be a sign of dehydration. So instead of automatically running to that bag of chips or scarfing down that leftover piece of pie, grab some water!
- Gorgeous skin - Does it kill you to spend all of your hard-earned money on some fancy moisturizing cream that promises great results but doesn’t seem to deliver fast enough? Your best bet, and value for your money, is to hydrate your skin from the inside out, so drink up!
- Energy - The great debate: does coffee dehydrate you? Well, if you struggle in the mornings and need a boost of energy, go ahead and grab that cup of joe! But if you really want an added energy boost as well, start your morning off right by drinking a glass of water before your cup of coffee. It really does make a difference and you won’t even have to worry about answering that debate.
- Workouts - That saying, “work smarter, not harder,” can definitely be applied here. Dehydration can negatively impact your workouts and make it seem as though you are working out harder than you really are. The slightest bit of dehydration can cause your body to use stored energy quicker, leading you to feel fatigued a lot sooner than you may want.
Drink Up
Your body needs proper hydration for so many reasons, and it’s actually quite easy to incorporate into your diet with different kinds of beverages and water-rich foods. So go outside and enjoy the sun. Just be sure to stay healthy, happy, and hydrated.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, seeyour local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brookfield, Wis.