Water is important for good health. Are you aware that 60% of your body weight is made up of water? Water is needed to regulate the body temperature, blood pressure and digestion, and it can also help with keeping your kidneys working well and carrying oxygen and essential nutrients to cells. With this said, maintaining good hydration in the body is required for health and life itself.
It is no surprise that you can lose weight if you are properly hydrated, whereas dehydration weakens the immune system of your body and may lead to problems like swollen feet, headache and heat stroke. Proper hydration will make you feel full faster and suppress hunger.
Your body loses water primarily when you urinate, sweat and breathe. If you don’t replace the water you lose, you can easily become dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration are: thirst, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, headache, little or no urine, or urine which is darker than usual. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and to avoid these symptoms.
How to check if you are properly hydrated?
The first thing to check is if you are thirsty. If so, you need more water. You can also check the color of your urine. If it is clear and straw-colored, it means you are properly hydrated.
It is important to understand how much water is needed to hydrate yourself. The amount of water you need depends on the weather, your exercise levels and your specific medical conditions. Many experts and health authorities recommend six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day. However, different people have different requirements of water to stay healthy.
Individuals who need more water include:
- People who exercise
- People who have kidney or bladder problems
- People who have vomiting or diarrhea
A few tips to stay hydrated
- Keep a bottle of water at your work desk to drink water all day long and refill it.
- Drink water before and after exercise and work outs.
- Take a glass of water before every meal.
- Have a glass of water at the start and at the end of your day.
The idea is simple: drink water whenever you are thirsty. So don’t you think it’s time to grab a bottle of water for yourself?
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