Hydrated vs Dehydrated
Whether you want to remain optimally hydrated or escape dehydration, you need drinks with electrolytes in your diet. They are a great source of instant energy and rapid rehydration. But what exactly is dehydration, and what is optimal hydration? Let’s find out here.
Dehydration:
Medical experts define it as the process where the body loses an ample amount of water in a short time. There can be many reasons for this ranging from bad weather to ailments like diarrhea etc. Along with water, we also lose vital minerals like magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphate, potassium, etc. They are called electrolytes, and our bodies need them to function normally. Drinks with electrolytes are now readily available and can replenish the lost minerals in no time. Sometimes a person is still dehydrated after drinking them. Such a condition is referred to as acute or chronic dehydration. It requires lifestyle changes and a doctor’s supervision for treatment and cure.
Loss of electrolytes can cause palpitations, headaches, nausea, fever, restlessness, fatigue, mental disorientation, dizziness, and many other undesirable conditions. So, one must always be on guard and try not to hit low fluid levels.
Optimal hydration:
It alludes to the condition when the body has sufficient water and other crucial minerals that we have discussed above to perform at its best. We all know this, but not many people know that our brain is 70%, lungs are almost 90%, and blood is approx.—80% water. Even a tiny drop of 2% in the optimal fluids levels can send our entire system in jeopardy.
Hydration is vital for the excretion of toxic wastes from the body, food digestion, production of helpful enzymes, healthy skin, effective metabolism, joint lubrication, absorbing essential nutrients, cell building and rebuilding, maintaining an average temperature, burning calories, etc. If the body is dehydrated, it reabsorbs the toxins, putting the liver in a challenging situation. This continuous strain on the liver can be very detrimental to our immune and other systems.
How to achieve optimal hydration?
Achieving optimal hydration is not hard. Here is how you can do it.
Check your fluids intake: Do not compromise on your water consumption. Have water in every form and not just liquid. Eat fruits, veggies, and even plants that have high aqua content.
Drink with electrolytes: They effectively boost your electrolytes level that you may lose after working out or sweating a lot. Their optimal intake is very beneficial for your health.
Caffeine and alcohol: There’s got to be a cap on these beverages. They have dehydrating properties, so watch out how much of them are going in and dilute your body with ample plain liquids after having them.
Lifestyle: How you live your life defines how much liquids your body needs. Pay heed to signs and signals from within you, sometimes they manifest sometimes they don’t, but never take it for granted.
Conclusion:
Staying hydrated is key to our survival. Aqua and drinks with essential minerals are excellent sources for shoring up our liquid levels when we need them.