Dehydration: You are Probably Already There

We have all experienced the state of feeling stressed, tired, anxious, and overall, drained. When that 2pm slump at work hits, no matter how hard we try, we are working on overload and our memory is fighting our body to just give up for the rest of the day. Much of this can be attributed to dehydration. As a matter of fact, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. How can this be when our body is made up of 60% water? When it comes to hydration, it can quickly become more complicated than we realize based on several factors. The standard 8 glasses of water a day doesn’t equally apply to everyone and not all 'liquids' correlate to hydration. Luckily, our bodies communicate with us as we need nourishment and it is crucial to listen, especially when it comes to signs of dehydration.

How Much Water Do We Need?

When it comes to our daily water intake, we need to consume a certain amount each day to stay at a healthy level, but this can vary between gender, age, and even geographical location. On average, men need approximately three liters of water per day and women need about 2.2 liters of water per day. This may sound like a lot, but water is the main component of most of our body parts and without it, our body cannot function properly. Ensuring that our brains are well-hydrated and performing proper cognitive functions means everything and without it, we as humans (or any species, for that matter) cannot do things we do naturally (such as keep our liver or kidneys functioning). As soon as we feel ourselves becoming dehydrated, our brain is already working to adjust our heart rate, blood pressure, and kidney function to store fluids as a reserve.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Some of the more common symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, decreased or dark urination, thirst, headaches and fatigue. When we drink alcohol, it causes our bodies to become very dehydrated, creating the same symptoms. When we drink alcohol, the ethanol from the alcohol inhibits the production of the hormone, vasopressin (also referred to as ADH or antidiuretic hormone). Healthline claims that “Typically, the brain signals the release of ADH in response to an increase in particles over fluids (plasma osmolality). The ADH signals your kidneys to hold on to water. By suppressing ADH, alcohol can make the kidneys release more water. This can have a dehydrating effect on your body that not only makes you pee more, but can also cause headaches and nausea later.”

It is crucial to routinely stay hydrated whether we are drinking alcohol or not. Each year the number of consumers that are paying more attention to hydration is increasing, with Americans having consumed 14.4 billion gallons of bottled water in 2019. This number is up 3.6% from the previous year. As essential as it is for our health and hydration, sometimes water just isn’t good enough. In instances where alcohol is involved and it is after the fact, water will not help the dehydration that is already occurring. Consider using an electrolyte mix, such as Drinklyte. Drinklyte not only restores lost electrolytes but also safely rehydrates bodies back to their normal functions. Not only is this an affordable and convenient option, but its formula (backed by the World Health Organization) is scientifically proven to be just as effective as an IV and starts working immediately. The only other thing that can make this any better is how amazing you’ll feel after using it! Drinking alcohol or not, hydration is one of the best things we can give our body and in time, we will notice the difference in how we feel and look.