Staying hydrated is vital in ensuring you maintain good health and can help to prevent a wide range of different health problems. During the summertime temperature rise and it is therefore even more important to stay hydrated and to make sure you are drinking enough fluids.
Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in, such as via sweating or urination. Dehydration causes a reduction in strength and stamina and can cause headaches and also make you feel dizzy and lightheaded.
One of the main reasons why staying hydrated is so important in the summer is due to the fact that you sweat a lot more. You lose of fluid through sweating as it is the body’s natural mechanism for regulating and reducing your temperature.
When you sweat, you lose fluid and electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and magnesium. These electrolytes are what help your body to regulate fluids and when they are lost, you will become dehydrated.
Dehydration can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, dizziness and confusion which can leave you feeling very unwell. It is important to remain hydrated as there are more serious effects of dehydration which can be potentially life-threatening.
Severe complications of dehydration include seizures, swelling of the brain and kidney failure which can all be detrimental to your health.
Regular intake of fluids will help to prevent dehydration. The best way to do this is by drinking water. The recommended amount of water you should drink a day is at least eight glasses, however, this can vary based on your size, sex and activity levels.
If you are exercising you will need to drink more fluids to compensate for what your body loses through sweat while you are exercising. Ensuring you have a drink while exercising is important as it prevents you from losing too much fluid before you can restore it.
It is important to note that you can get hydration from other fluids besides water. Fruit juices, electrolyte drinks and cordial can all contribute to your daily fluid intake. You should still aim to drink as much water as possible though.
There are several drinks that can actually further dehydrate you which should be avoided, especially if you are already dehydrated. These include alcoholic beverages and any drinks which contain high amounts of sugar.
If you do not hydrate properly, you can cause severe issues with your kidneys. Dehydration causes a build-up of waste in the body.
Our kidneys work to remove these toxins from our blood, and when there are excessive amounts, it can cause your kidneys to become clogged with myoglobin which can cause pain, discomfort and even lead to kidney damage.
Another reason why hydration is so important in the summer is because it helps to keep our skin healthy. Hydrated skin is happy skin and if you aren’t putting enough fluids into your body, your skin can become dry and cracked.
In the summer your skin is already more fragile as it is being exposed to more sun, which can dry it out and even burn it, therefore keeping it as hydrated and moisturised as possible is key in ensuring you stay glowing and healthy.