Take Care, Mon Ami

Dehydrating? Check This Out!

Two thirds of a human being’s body is made up of water, yet we are losing it every second.

Indeed, water is crucial to sustaining lives. But how and why is Adam’s ale so important? Do we in take enough water? And, is it true that a person need 8 glasses of water daily?

Here are 2 sites with different advices:

http://nutrition.about.com/od/hydrationwater/a/waterarticle.htm

http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

Daily common dehydration

I guess it might be better to start off by identifying when and how are fluids lost from our bodies.

Commonly, body fluids are lost when we

· breathe where humidified air leaves the body

· sweat to cool the body

· urinate or have bowel movements to rid the body of waste products

[The 3 points are quoted from http://www.medicinenet.com/dehydration/article.htm]

Other ‘dehydrating’ situations

· Sports and Exercise

While exercising, our body perspires to release the heat and cool down the body. And here’s the problem, besides losing water, salts and minerals (electrolytes) are lost in the process too. So, remember to take sports drinks or even salt water and not simply plain water for more effective fluids replenishment.

· Gastrointestinal Infections

Diarrhea and Vomiting result in the loss of body fluids and electrolytes too, and it is important to replenish them to keep the body functioning. (Check out the pharmacies for solutions or see your doc if the symptoms persist!)

· Caffeine

Caffeine is a diuretic (i.e. causing increase in discharge of urine). However, it is unclear whether caffeine is a direct cause for dehydration. But better be safe than sorry, so it is probably a wise choice to steer clear of excessive intake of caffeine under the scorching heat. And watch out for the caffeine craving during long workouts and possible situations where you tend to sweat! :)