Are You Drinking Enough Water?
Find out if you’re drinking enough water by watching out for these five signs of dehydration
It’s shaping up to be another summer of record-breaking high temperatures. And the news media is beginning to sound like a broken record, too. Over and over again we’re reminded to keep ourselves well hydrated by drinking plenty of water. But it’s an important message—not just during a heatwave, but also throughout the year, because water serves so many critical functions in the body.
How do you know if you’re drinking enough?
If you’re one of those people who keep track of your fluid intake, and you monitor how much you drink every day, then you probably have a pretty good idea. But there are some other indicators that your fluid intake may not be quite up to par.
Your mouth is dry
This seems so obvious. If you’re thirsty, you’re probably not getting enough fluids. True enough, but keep in mind that sometimes your thirst mechanism doesn’t kick in until you’re already running fairly dry. That’s one reason why athletes, especially, are encouraged to drink on a schedule. Also, as people age, the thirst response isn’t quite as strong, which is why establishing a healthy ‘drinking habit’ as a young adult is so important.
Your urine is dark
When your body is well hydrated, you can tell by looking at the color of your urine. If it’s relatively clear—enough that you could read the newspaper through it—then you’re good. Without enough water, your urine becomes concentrated and dark in color. Your urine should look more like lemonade, and less like apple juice.
You’re constipated
Proper bowel function relies on adequate fluids, so if you’re constipated, it’s possible that you aren’t drinking enough water. Most people consider fiber the most important factor in ensuring a well functioning digestive tract. But in order for certain fibers (the water-soluble kind) to properly do their job, they need to soak up water. That causes the fibers to swell up, adding bulk and aiding elimination.
Your breath isn’t as sweet as it could be
When your mouth gets dry, there’s less saliva to wash away the naturally occurring bacteria that live there. As the bacteria feed on little bits of food and skin cells in your mouth, they start to multiply, leaving your breath a little stale. Think “morning mouth.” Water helps because it keeps the saliva flowing and can help reduce bacterial buildup.
Your workouts aren’t as good as they could be
Water is critical in helping your body produce the energy your muscles need to fuel your workouts. When you’re not well hydrated, you may feel your energy flagging. That’s why getting enough fluids before and during exercise is so important.
Written by Susan Bowerman, M.S., RD, CSSD, CSOWM, FAND – Senior Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training https://discovergoodnutrition.com/2012/08/are-you-drinking-enough-water/
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