Simple Ways to Stay Hydrated
Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 5:49AM
Staying hydrated is important - every organ, cell and tissue in your body depends on water for survival. Proper hydration also addresses a bevy of health concerns, from dry mouth and bad breath to gallstones and irregularity. Each day you lose water by simply going to the bathroom, sweating and breathing. Replacing these lost fluids is vital to preventing dehydration. Some common symptoms of dehydration include:
• Infrequent urination
• Urine that is darker in color than usual
• Extreme thirst
• Dry mouth
• Sleepiness or fatigue
• Headache
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Confusion
You can help prevent dehydration by following these simple steps:
• Keep a bottle of water on hand. Sipping on water throughout the day will help prevent dehydration. Add a slice of lemon or lime for flavor, if you like.
• Make it a point to drink a glass of water when you wake and before bed.
• Eat fruits and vegetables. They are naturally water-dense, especially citrus fruits, watermelon, lettuce and tomatoes.
• Drink water before you exercise, as well as during and after.
• If you are drinking alcohol, always pair it with a glass of water to offset its dehydrating effects.
Reader Comments (25)
potassium: sweet potato,beet greens oranges,potatoes, white beans,dates, yogurt, tomato,raisins,clams,kidney beans
calcium: broccoli, kale, spinach,tofu,peanuts,black beans,salmon, sardines, sesame seeds, blackstrap molasses, almonds
magnesium: Among cereals, barley, oat bran, and brown rice, wheat grain when not refined,Almost all milk products are very good sources of potassium and magnesium. Skimmed milk and yogurt bananas, raisins figs, kidney beans and soy beans.
Just following up from my previous comment. Scurvy was what I had in mind regarding the dangers of a diet lacking in fresh fruit.
Wiki has a quick overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy
My best,
Lynne
Seriously? Scurvy? While some fruit is indeed quite high in vitamin C, you might be amazed at the vegetables which are just as good sources of it, without the sugar load.
Sorted Alphabetically:
https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12354500/Data/SR24/nutrlist/sr24a401.pdf
Sorted by nutrient amount:
https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12354500/Data/SR24/nutrlist/sr24w401.pdf
In addition, there is compelling data which shows that diets high in carbohydrates, especially grains (which are quite high in anti-nutrients such as phytates and lectins, even HeartHealthyWholeGrains), drastically increase the body's requirements for vitamin C.
Vilhjalmur Stefansson was an explorer who spent a long period of time with Aboriginal American tribes in locations which precluded ANY fresh fruits all year long, subsisting on a diet of raw and cooked meat and fat, and he never developed scurvy. When he returned to the states, he took part in a lockdown metabolic ward study during which time he subsisted entirely on meat for over a year, and remained in perfect health the entire time.
Now, I don't necessarily recommend this for maximum health, as today's modern access to such foods as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries year round offer ready addition of many trace nutrients without the glucose (and especially the fructose) load of the other fruits, but I remain unconvinced that they are necessary for human health. Removing grains, sugar and vegetable oils from the diet and replacing them with unlimited access to grassfed and pastured meat, eggs, green leafy and colorful vegetables, berries, nuts, seafood and sea vegetables, and animal fats is the best way to ensure health.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilhjalmur_Stefansson
"Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want, so you know you are getting the best possible information."
~ Michael Scott (The Office)
Not sure what you are getting at, Jeff. Are you asking for more cites about the life and work of Vilhjalmur Stefansson, or did you just feel the need to denigrate Wikipedia? The cites at the bottom of the wiki article are valid ones.