Some might think that this is a silly topic for the winter but I have found that just as many people suffer from dehydration this time of year as in the summer. Most people understand the summer dehydration problem. Too much activity in the hot sun and your body is sweating all the time. That is a great recipe for dehydration. However in the winter it can come on in a much more sneaky way. In the summer you feel the sweat. You know that you’re loosing water.
In the winter it’s different.
The air is much dryer in this part of the country, so when you sweat, the water evaporates so quickly that you might not even realize that you are sweating. Also the activity you do is different so you might not realize that you are doing activity that requires your body to replenish the water.
Here are some of the top signs that you are dehydrated so you can be aware of them and realize it’s time to start drinking water so you don’t have muscle cramps, headaches or other problems that arise from being dehydrated.
1) Dry mouth. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, your mouth and tongue can let you know you need water by feeling dry and sticky.
2) Sleepy The heat of summer can make you feel sleepy, but if you are sleepy this time of year, it might also make you feel sleepy and have no energy.
3) A healthy person should need to go to the bathroom to pee 6-10 times a day. If you aren’t doing that, it might mean that you are dehydrated and your body just doesn’t have enough extra liquid
4) While you are in the bathroom, check the color of your urine. If it is a bright yellow that could be a sign that you aren’t drinking enough water.
5) Headaches. If you are getting headaches, instead of reaching for the aspirin right away, try drinking a good glass of water and waiting 10 minutes. Headaches are a big sign of dehydration.
6) Skin lost its elasticity. This is a big one if you want to stay looking young for years to come. When you are dehydrated, the skin looses its ability to snap back. Try pinching some of your skin on the back of your hand. If it stays in a tent like position for more than a few seconds, dehydration is a concern, so is the speed at which your skin is aging.
Suffering from any of these?
It’s time to up your water. Want to know how much? It’s simple, take your body weight and divide in half that is the minimum number of ounces you should be drinking daily. If you aren’t anywhere that amount, don’t just go straight there, go half way for a few days then maybe ½ again. Within a week you will be there.
Something more to consider!
Your body determines how thirsty you are based on taste stimuli. If you drink plane water, it takes a lot of water to not feel thirsty. If you drink things like coffee pop or tea, your taste buds can signal you have had enough to drink even though you are not nearly close to being at the right amount of water.
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