You have probably heard the saying, but we will go ahead and finish it… “but you can’t make it drink”. Unfortunately, the same could be said with the general population. Reports have stated that possibly 75% of Americans may suffer from chronic dehydration.
Water is the most important nutrient to our bodies daily function. Did you know, that you can live up to 2-4 weeks without eating food? While death from dehydration only takes 3-4 days.
Functions of water…
-Bathes our cells and tissues
-Helps remove waste in our body
-Drives metabolic reactions that give us energy
-Regulates body temperature (which happens to be rather important in Houston)
-Marco polo, cannon balls, and the Frio river all depend on it.
Water is extremely important to our physiological function on a day to day basis. Unfortunately, many of the beverages we consume can have a negative effect on hydration. Some of them have a diuretic effect, meaning they force you to loose more water, which contributes to our chronic dehydration. While fall is upon us, and the temperature is slowly beginning to drop, try not and forget about your hydration needs.
Problems associated with dehydration…(far from an all-inclusive list)
-Headaches
-Muscle cramps
-Delayed healing
-Decreased mental acuity and focus
-Irritability
Tips to increase your water intake…
-Leave a glass of water bedside, and finish it before you get up in the morning
-Purchase a reusable bottle that you keep with you, and keep filled
-Consume 8-10 eight ounce cups of water a day
-For ever caffeinated drink, consume 2 eight ounce glasses of water
Water intake requirements vary from person to person. Also, there is such thing as TOO MUCH water. If you have any questions on your individual hydration needs, feel free to contact the office and schedule an appointment.
Remember to,
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