Dehydration

Water is good

 We all know hydration is very important. Still, most people I meet admit to not drinking enough water. Some say they do not like visiting the bathroom, some that they are not thirsty, and some that it is inconvenient to stop work and drink. There are plenty of excuses. If you were to do the same to a plant as you are doing to yourself, the plant would turn brown and die. Water is life. Hydration is one of the key elements of well-being. 

Drink water

Have you ever stopped to think how clever the human body actually is? It is brilliant and adapts so well. When you replenish your water reservoir, your body works better. It is not the stale pond but a cold spring that brings pure and clean drinking water to the stream. Always fresh and nurtured. If your body gets dehydrated, it starts to shrink and bloat. No way, you think, those are the opposite actions. But yes, remember that one day, it was hot, and you were on your feet all day and did not have time to drink. When you got home and could take your shoes off in the evening, your feet were sore and swollen. Or that morning when you woke up, your face looked swollen. You wondered what had happened and realized you had been drinking only water. Both cases are due to dehydration. The first one is not drinking enough, and the next is drinking only water. 

Then, the shrinking part. Our bodies adjust internally. If we are fully hydrated, our blood volume is bigger. When we get dehydrated, our veins shrink, and our blood is concentrated. If you then go and have your hemoglobin tested, your red cell count may be high due to that concentration level. But you will not claim the benefits of a high red cell count. On the contrary, you may feel a higher heart rate and blood pressure. You may even show signs of stress. Our bodies need to be replenished. 

Thirst may be confused with hunger.

Have you gained any weight lately? Did you know that sometimes we get our bodily signals confused? Our thirst is often interpreted as hunger, and we might overeat since we get less water from food than actual water. By keeping your water bottle nearby and drinking constantly, you will remain better hydrated and less likely to feel hungry when you are not. 

Do you suffer from headaches? Did you know that dehydration may also cause them? Are you feeling disoriented? The answer to so many underlying health issues is to drink more water. I wish you would take drinking more seriously. If you are well hydrated and get sick, it will be a bit easier for the doctor to make a diagnosis when they do not have to deal with dehydration, which is caused by bad habits.