Staying hydrated throughout your day plays an important role in many aspects of your health and wellbeing. Many people have grown up hearing that they should drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. While that is partially true, the reality is that everyone needs different amounts of water.
Drinking enough water has many health benefits including
weight loss, healthy skin, and having more energy throughout the day. Conversely, if you don’t drink enough water, you’ll experience the unhealthy symptoms of dehydration.
Dehydration symptoms
Some symptoms associated with dehydration are mild. You may not even realize you are dehydrated. However, you will likely notice an overall improvement in how you feel if you do drink enough water. Dehydration can cause minor symptoms such as:
Dry mouth or feeling thirsty – feeling thirsty is the first sign of dehydration. Drink some water right away to prevent any other symptoms.
Fatigue – Many people don’t realize that their tiredness or low energy can be easily remedied simply by drinking water.
Headache – Headaches are nuisances that keep up from being able to function fully. Drink enough water to avoid headaches and keep your concentration sharp.
Little or no urine – Drinking more water means taking more trips to the restroom. Watch for this sign as an indication of whether or not you are drinking enough.
Some symptoms are more concerning and may indicate extreme dehydration. Be especially aware of symptoms like dizziness, confusion, or fainting. Symptoms like these can often be associated with overheating, or heat stroke, which can both accompany dehydration. If you experience these symptoms, seek
immediate medical attention.
How to stay hydrated
It can be difficult to remember to get the amount of water you need. Here are a few tricks to making sure you stay hydrated.
Carry a reusable water bottle – Carrying a refillable water bottle with you wherever you go will ensure that you always have water available to you. Studies have shown that people drink more when they constantly have water bottles with them.
Eat fruits and vegetables with water – Drinking water isn’t the only way to stay hydrated. There are many fruits and vegetables that have high water contents, and eating those can be very affective at keeping you hydrated.
Infuse your water with fruit – Many people avoid drinking water simply because they don’t enjoy the taste. Trying squeezing some lemon or orange into your water. Or you can try combinations like cucumber and strawberry. Play around with different fruits until you find something that makes you want to drink water.
Order water at restaurants – The easiest time to remember to drink water is at meals. Either skip out on the soda all together and order water instead or order a glass of water with your other drink.
Start and end your day with a glass of water – Keep a glass of water by your bed so that it’s easy to make drinking a glass of water the first part of your day. End your day with a glass of water or a cup of tea before you go to
sleep; this will help you wake up feeling energized and ready for the new day.
Staying hydrated is easier than you think. If you start carrying a water bottle around and choose water at meal times, you’ve already begun forming habits that will help you get the water you need every day.