Dehydration and Your Health
As the hot months of the year are upon us, it’s easy to become dehydrated. In fact, when the temperature and humidity enter the 70/70 zone (both temperature and humidity are over 70) we are entering the dehydration danger zone when it is imperative to sip frequently, and hydrate before, during, and after any activity.
Not only does dehydration make you thirsty, but it can also be dangerous to your health so here is how your body will tell that you are not drinking enough: bad breath, sugar caving, dry skin, tiredness, irritability, chills, muscle cramps, lightheadedness and confusion, headache, constipation, dark-colored urine, and excessive thirst.
Dehydration can cause headaches in several ways; lack of water affects serotonin levels which can give you headaches. In addition, small blood vessels in the brain respond quickly to hydration levels and can lead to full-blown migraines. You could try drinking a glass or two of water the next time you have a headache and find that it disappears.
From the beginning of time, water has been extolled for its therapeutic values. Centenarians (persons age 100 and older) on every inhabited continent swear by their native waters as their source of long life. One thing their water had in common is purity, with no chemicals and no toxins. But even if you happen to live far from a city near a clear mountain stream, your water may not fare better than city water due to acid rain and toxic levels of minerals that are present in groundwater.
You are what you drink! Everything that goes down the drain from our lawns, agricultural fields, pharmaceutical drugs, or elsewhere in our environment inevitably ends up in our drinking water. Invest in a carbon-based filter to remove impurities from tap water.
The best way to remove contaminants is through a filter system. The best kinds of filters employ activated charcoal which removes the impurities but leaves in water-soluble minerals. Two things to avoid when it comes to water are water softeners, which remove essential minerals and storing water in plastic containers that can leach PCBs into the water.
Forget the “8 glasses a day” rule. It’s a good rule of thumb, but water intake needs vary depending on the individual. Sixty-four ounces may be too much for inactive people or far too little for those who exercise or work outdoors. Hydration is a highly individual thing and changes daily. The best indicator of dehydration is not thirst—it’s actually the color of your urine—the deeper the color, the more dehydrated you are.
Avoid energy drinks for hydration because they contain large amounts of sugar and stimulants that can be dangerous and counterproductive. Instead, try our balancing Ancient Treasures Tea chilled as a refreshing iced tea on a hot summer day. And of course, water doesn’t just come from water! Many fruits and vegetables contain over 85% water, such as celery, cucumbers, lettuce, grapefruit, cantaloupe, berries, oranges, plums, and the aptly named watermelon, just to name a few.
Nothing says summer like juicy, cooling watermelon. My own mother used to make this salad for my brother and me during very hot summers, and it would cool us down immediately. Watermelon is an excellent source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been associated with reduced incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and macular degeneration. It’s also filled with vitamins A and C, both good for your vision, and it contains the amino acid arginine, which helps lower blood pressure through its production of nitric oxide.
1 cup chopped watermelon
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup chopped fresh mint
Drizzle of honey
Combine the melon, cheese, onion, and mint in a serving bowl and mix gently. Drizzle a little honey over the top for a touch of added sweetness and serve immediately.
May you Live Long, Live Strong, and Live Happy!