Hydration Myths

The British summer is certainly upon us and as much as it’s great to get out and enjoy the heat, it’s important to take measures to maintain your hydration levels.

As mentioned in a previous blog Hydration & Health/

“Hydration, in relation to our body, is best described as the state at which our body has sufficient water in its tissues. The human body is nearly 2/3 water which is why keeping it hydrated is such an important part of our everyday lifestyle.”

“Benefits of staying hydrated can contribute towards:

-Healthy Skin

-Good breath

-Supple joints

-Cooler body temperature

-lower levels of toxins that can effect organs such as kidneys and liver

-Healthy digestion

-Aids weight/muscle management

Dehydration is when our body is losing more fluids in comparison to what we are putting in. Signs of dehydration range from:

-Headaches

-Bad breath

-Feeling fatigued

-Increased thirst

-Feeling bloated

-Darker coloured urine

-Muscle cramps”

Below are a list of common hydration misconceptions.

1) In order to be hydrated your urine colour needs to be clear

This is not the case. Ideally you want your urine colour to be light shade of yellow however if you notice it gets darker as the day goes on it could be a sign that you need to take on more fluids. If you find your urine is consistently clear it may be a sign that you’re actually drinking too much and can lead to a loss in your electrolytes.

2) Only water keeps you hydrated

Often recommended as the best way to hydrate water doea provide benefits. However in the cases of scenarios whereby large activity is undertaken causing the body to sweat out vast amounts of electrolytes, water alone wouldn’t do the job. Extra consideration would be needed to replace those lost electrolytes. An example could be a marathon runner in hot temperatures compared to a dog walker in cool temperatures.

3) Drinking 6-8 cups of water a day to stay hydrated

“This is very much a generalised assumption. This doesn’t take into account activity, size, age and how much that person sweats. A rule of thumb is that the bigger you are, more active or if you sweat easily then you will require more water than the average person. On the other side small people who don’t sweat as much may require less water. Listen to your body, if you’re thirsty, drink. Look out of signs of early dehydration as listed above.

4) Feeling thirsty means your dehydrated

This is not the case. This is your body telling you to replace any lost fluids. Severe dehydration won’t just instantly happen. Our body is vert resourceful and will always protect its vital organs. However don’t leave it too long if you do experience any potential dehydration symptoms.