Hibernation or Hydration?

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Have you ever felt an overwhelming amount of fatigue take over your body? Or how about you just haven't been feeling like yourself lately and you can't figure out why? If you answered yes to either of these questions- I want you to take a moment and honestly reflect on how much water you've been drinking. Have you noticed less frequent urination patterns or darker than normal urine color? If so, you might be suffering from a mild to severe case of dehydration. 

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than it's taking in. As the weather gets colder and you're not as hot as you're used to being in the summer, you may notice it's not as easy to drink adequate amounts of water consistently on a daily basis. 

Water has many important jobs. It:

  1. carries nutrients and oxygen to your cells
  2. flushes bacteria from your bladder
  3. aids in digestion
  4. prevents constipation
  5. normalizes blood pressure
  6. protects organs and tissues
  7. cushions joints
  8. regulates body temperature
  9. maintains electrolyte balance & more...                                                                                                           

The recommended water intake for women is between 9 and 11.5 cups daily, and between 13 and 15.5 cups for males. In order to keep your body functioning properly, it's imperative that you find ways to drink water even when you don't feel thirsty. 

DID YOU KNOW: Water makes up TWO-THIRDS of a healthy human body?

WAYS TO HELP YOU MEET YOUR RECOMMENDED WATER INTAKE ON A DAILY BASIS:

  • Flavor it. Add fruits or vegetables such as lemons, limes, oranges, strawberries, watermelon, or cucumber to your water.
  • Tie it to a routine. Drink a glass of water every time you: wake up, brush your teeth, use the bathroom, eat a snack, take a daily medication or multivitamin, etc. 
  • Eat it. Eats fruits and vegetables that contain a higher water content such as melons, cucumbers, lettuce and celery.
  • Track it. Buy a water bottle with lines to hold you accountable for meeting benchmarks throughout the day.
  • Set an alarm. Set an alarm to either track your water or drink more water. 
  • Take it to go. Pack a to-go water bottle to have with you at all times so you're never without water. 

-G.G


Sources: 

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/tips-for-drinking-more-water

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/water/#:~:text=General%20recommendations,exposed%20to%20very%20warm%20climates.

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/nutritional/dehydration#about-dehydration

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink

Comments

  1. jmNovember 4, 2022 at 5:36 PM

    I really love that you picked hydration as a topic. I feel like in the fall, most people are thinking of holidays and fun (including me). I liked the tips to stay hydrated and small fun fact.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AshleyNovember 7, 2022 at 9:37 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  2. AshleyNovember 7, 2022 at 9:37 PM

    I also love that you chose the topic of hydration! Those of us who do not get enough water can use all the reminders and tips we can get!

    ReplyDelete
  3. StephanieNovember 12, 2022 at 10:13 AM

    Thank you for sharing all this info about water! Many people forget that they can get plenty of fluid through food. And we can all use a reminder every now and then to drink water. SG

    ReplyDelete
  4. AHNovember 30, 2022 at 7:23 AM

    I feel we all know we need water, but sometimes its hard to get it all the water we need in for the day. These are great tips to help with that!

    ReplyDelete

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