A while ago I talked about why our bodies need water. But as I said everyone is different and how people eat can also determine how much water they need to 'top up' with.
So what is the magic number of glasses we should be drinking every day? Is it six glasses per day or
is it eight? It can be very confusing and hard to decide if you are drinking
the right amount.
Also confusing is the misconception that we must drink a
certain amount of water, when in fact we only need to
consume the right amount of fluid to stay
hydrated.
A fluid can be any liquid that has a positive water balance in the body such as herbal teas, milk, juice, water and
other drinks, but it also includes foods that are mainly water, such as some fruits,
vegetables and soups.
There are also foods and drinks that have a negative influence on water in our body: salty processed foods, caffeine, soft drinks are some examples.
So what you should do is look for a few sign that YOU might be dehydrated.
•
Urine:
Your urine should be clear or a very light yellow color. A dark yellow
indicates dehydration, so you will need to drink more water. Also you should
need to use the bathroom every couple of hours.
•
Stool: It
should be easy to pass your stool. If you are straining a lot, this may be an
indicator of dehydration. If you have consistently loose stools, this may be an
indicator of overhydration. Your body may not be able to handle the amount of
fluids you are taking in and it will not be absorbed.
•
Skin:
Your skin is also a good indicator of hydration levels. If you pull up the skin
on the back of your hand and let go, it should bounce back to its original
position quickly. If not, you may be dehydrated. Also, dry skin or a dry mouth
may be indicators of dehydration.
•
Thirst: If
you are thirsty, you are in need of more fluids for sure. In fact the theory is that if you feel thirsty you were dehydrated a long time ago - you shouldn't wait until you feel thirsty to drink more.
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