Common Myths about Dehydration

Water is very important for life. Up to 60% of human body is made up of water. Water is important to keep your brain hydrated. When brain becomes dehydrated, you may feel dizzy and low and may eventually faint. Deficiency of water may also lead to hypotension. This is why, it is important to drink adequate amount of water every day.

A normal human requires 8 to 10 glass of water per day that should be taken over the whole day. Taking adequate amounts of water is good for your general health.

Dehydration is when your body is deficient in water. Dehydration causes dry skin and hair, dizziness, low blood pressure, and low mood. However, there are various myths attached to dehydration. Following are a few of them.

You don’t have to be deprived of water for many days to be dehydrated.

There are two types of dehydration, acute and chronic. Acute dehydration can occur in few hours of not taking water and your body starts preserving it by producing concentrated urine. Chronic dehydration occurs over the period of many days. Both types of dehydration is not good for your health.

So divide your water intake through the day so that you don’t have to face acute dehydration.

Your Body Only Needs 8 Glass Of Water Regardless Of When You Drink It

That is totally wrong! You need a steady and constant supply of water to function properly. You cannot expect to have 8 glass at some time during the day and stay without water for rest of the day, expecting to be hydrated. Your body is constantly using water for different purposes and excreting what is extra than it’s need. This is why, when you don’t drink water for a few hours, your body becomes dehydrated and needs water to function properly.

So if you want to stay hydrated, make sure that you drink good amount of water steadily over the complete day. You can drink water, milk, and water containing fruits and vegetables like water melon etc.

All Beverages And Drinks Contain Equal Amount Of Water

No! The composition of every beverage and drink differs. All have different percentages of water and some even can make your body excrete water.One such example is of tea which has a diuretic effect on your body water. So does the alcohol.

So be careful while choosing your beverages and drinks. Don’t take a lot of coffee or tea. It will make you dehydrated.

Thirst Is The Only Symptom Of Dehydration

It is said that when you get thirsty, you are already dehydrated. This is right but not completely. Thirst is not the only symptom of dehydration. Sometimes, you are not thirsty but dehydrated and your body sends you signal through headache, stomach aches, or dry skin.

This is why, make sure that you don’t wait to get thirsty. Keep a water bottle with you and keep sipping water after a while.

Water Is The Only Source To Keep You Hydrated

That is wrong. Water is not only contained in the glass you drink from. It can be utilized in various ways. You can intake water through your foods that have high water content, such as water melon, melon, oranges, lettuce, cucumber, and various other fruits and vegetables.

So don’t only focus on water. Make sure that you utilize hydrating foods too.

You Should Not Drink Too Much Of Water

If you are feeling thirsty even after drinking enough water, that doesn’t mean you cannot drink more. You should drink as much water as your body asks for. Your body manages it on its own. The water that is excess and not needed by your body will be excreted without causing any harm to your health.

So never keep yourself from drinking water when thirsty.

Drinking Excess Water Can Lead To Water Retention

No, it doesn’t. Your body is designed to cope with excess amount of water. It is excreted in form of frequent urination and dilute urine. If you think that drinking excess water will lead to water retention, you are wrong. The only case when it happens is when you have hormonal imbalances that cause retention of water.

So if your body is retaining water, get yourself checked.

Anton Lawrence
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Common Myths about Dehydration