Water.

We all need it – and need it – for optimal health and well-being, but a shocking number of individuals go about their every day lives (and those working hours) adequately hydrated, and actually not adequately hydrated. One report based on medical opinion revealed that as many as 75% of Americans can do it suffer from chronic dehydration.

“Over time, not drinking enough water can contribute to a range of medical complications, from fatigue, joint pain and weight gain to headaches, ulcers, high blood pressure and kidney disease,” the report said.

Apparently that is the tip of the iceberg of the proverbial dehydration disease.

“During a normal day, we lose about two liters of water just through breathing, sweating and other body functions,” notes board-certified internist Dr. Blanca Lizaola-Mayo. “Even while sleeping, we can lose over a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of water weight not only through sweating but also through breathing. Even air conditioning causes our body to dry out. The health consequences of dehydration are enormous and can range from mild to severe, including problems with the heart, blood pressure and breathing, headaches and cognitive problems such as concentration… just to name a few. Those who feel the “afternoon slump” should know that dehydration is the main cause of fatigue during the day. It’s important to understand that when we first feel thirsty, we are already close to 2% dehydrated.”

For all its importance, proper hydration is a fragile balance that should be maintained. Institute of Medicine the report indicated the weakness of maintaining adequate body hydration, noting: “Body water deficiency may occur within hours due to reduced water intake or increased water loss due to physical activity and exposure to environmental factors (e.g. heat).” So a superbly hydrated body can turn the scales right into a state of dehydration in a reasonably short time period, either actively (as in exercise) or passively (as in respiratory).

Here are some insights and suggestions from distinguished health experts to assist you to stay happily hydrated:

How much water do you would like?

According to Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics“Many factors influence how much water you need, including age, gender, activity level and overall health. For women, the total amount of water is about 11.5 cups per day and for men, about 15.5 cups. However, these estimates include fluids consumed from both food and beverages, including water. You usually get about 20% of the water you need from the food you eat. With this in mind, women need about nine glasses of fluid a day and men need about 12.5 cups to replace the amount of water lost.”

What are probably the most common causes of dehydration?

According to Mayonnaise clinic“Sometimes dehydration happens for simple reasons: you don’t drink enough because you’re sick or busy, or because you don’t have access to safe drinking water while traveling, hiking or camping.” While that is actually not exhaustive, known causes of dehydration may include sweating during exercise and sports; air travel; traveling in excessively hot, humid, cold or windy weather; drinking an excessive amount of coffee and other diuretic drinks; recovering from a hangover; and a litany of other relatively common every day activities.

Do all fluids hydrate the body?

NO Cleveland Clinic may be very clear in its suggestion that “Some drinks are better than others at preventing dehydration” and that “alcoholic and caffeinated beverages equivalent to coffee, tea and cola are usually not beneficial for optimal hydration. These fluids tend to draw water from the body and promote dehydration. Fruit juices and fruit drinks may contain too many carbohydrates, too little sodium and may cause stomach upset. Proper hydration will make your summer activities safer and way more enjoyable.

What are the advantages of proper hydration?

While the advantages of a properly hydrated body are many, CDC highlights several key health advantages, including maintaining a standard temperature; lubrication and cushioning of joints, protection of the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues; and removal of waste through urination, sweating, and bowel movements. Healthline also offers a spread of evidence-based health advantages of drinking loads of water, which include maximizing physical performance; optimized energy levels and mood; and supporting digestion and excretion.

However, make sure to drink water, as Dr. Lizaola-Mayo warns: “Drinking too much water or fluids can lead to hyponatremia, which causes dilution and too low sodium levels in cells, which can be dangerous and even life-threatening. – if it is not treated.”

What are the signs of early or mild dehydration?

The nonprofit Rehydration Project states that “the severity of dehydration is assessed by signs and symptoms that reflect the amount of fluid lost. In the early stages of dehydration, there are no symptoms. Early symptoms are difficult to detect but include dry mouth and thirst. As dehydration increases, signs and symptoms appear.”

What are the signs of moderate or severe dehydration?

Who is most prone to dehydration?

No one is immune to the condition of dehydration, but some populations are at greater risk. The (*10*)Mayonnaise clinic indicates infants and children, the elderly, people affected by chronic diseases and people working or exercising outdoors.

According to the Mayo Clinic, it is time to call your doctor should you or a loved one “has had diarrhea for twenty-four hours or more; is irritable or confused and way more sleepy or less energetic than usual; I can not keep fluids down; and/or has bloody or black stools.”

How to develop into a water conscious customer?

The USDA recommends consumers to make smart purchases. “Use the nutrition label when selecting drinks on the food market. The food label and ingredient list includes information about added sugars, saturated fat, sodium and calories to assist you to make higher decisions.

There are also highly effective and cost-effective dehydration prevention and treatment innovations that could be integrated into your lifestyle and used every day. Experts from SOS hydration explains that its medical-grade powder formula accelerates hydration comparable to an intravenous drip, ensuring your body is fully hydrated 3 times faster than drinking water alone. This product’s enhanced hydration process utilizes the body’s digestive “sodium-glucose co-transport system” – oral rehydration therapy (ORT) approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

Can Food Help Stay Hydrated?

Yes, the body gets hydration not only from water and other fluids, but in addition from food – some contain as much as 90% water. According to Academy of Nutrition and Dieteticsthose with 90-100% water content include fruits equivalent to cantaloupe, strawberries and watermelon; in addition to vegetables equivalent to lettuce, cabbage, celery, spinach and cooked pumpkin. Options with 70% to 89% water content include fruits equivalent to bananas, grapes, oranges, pears and pineapples; vegetables equivalent to carrots, cooked broccoli and avocado; and dairy products equivalent to yogurt, cottage cheese and ricotta cheese.

For beverages, EatRight.org recommends specializing in unsweetened beverages, equivalent to water, to limit calories from added sugars, and using strategies to increase water intake, equivalent to adding a flavor enhancer.

Can sports drinks really worsen hydration?

Yes. Why pay extra cash for excess sugar once you really want electrolytes?

“In fact, only a very small amount of sugar is needed to transport electrolytes and water into cells as part of the sodium-glucose co-transport system,” says Dr. Lizaola-Mayo. “In fact, this method is effective when it uses a mixture of 1 sugar molecule and one sodium molecule, which helps create the fastest and most effective way to transport water to cells for hydration. Even water rehydration and other beverages that really use the sodium-glucose co-transport system have been like this shown contain excess sugar to improve taste, apparently ignoring the incontrovertible fact that this added sugar proportionally increases the calorie count and it does undermines H2O absorption by the cell.

“If there is excess sugar in a drink, even one formulated as a rehydration solution, reverse osmosis can be caused,” the doctor continues. This process occurs when there’s an abnormal sugar to sodium balance. Sodium all the time follows sugar and water all the time follows sodium. In a properly balanced drink (using the sodium and glucose co-transport system), water and electrolytes optimally flow to the cells. This is the case in high-sugar “hydration” drinks an excessive amount of sugar due to the quantity of sodium and as such sodium and then water is definitely flushed out of the cells and excreted from the body as urine. This can actually cause dehydration – the alternative effect of a hydration drink or sports drink that somebody has spent their hard-earned money on.”

Whether you are indoors or outdoors, energetic or resting, affected by an illness or completely healthy, one thing is evident: keeping sources of water readily available and consuming it frequently (and consistently) can have a hugely useful effect on your health and well-being.

It is easy and easily accessible help for a lot of diseases.