Staying Hydrated

It’s not unusual for people to start their day drinking coffee (which only further dehydrates our bodies). Next thing you know, they’re busy working, homeschooling and doing a lot of other stuff (besides drinking water). Staying hydrated is a thought in the distance.

We’re all distracted.

That’s why it’s important to pair the habit of drinking one or two cups of water as soon as you wake up (before your first cup of coffee) and continue drinking plenty of non-caffeinated fluids regularly throughout the day. If you keep a full cup of water right by your bed or in the bathroom, it will be easier to get into the habit of drinking it upon waking.

Dehydration can lead to feeling fatigued, which could explain why you might still feel tired when you wake up! It can directly affect  memory, stress levels, attention to detail, performance, and mood. A medical article published by the Journal Sleep Medicine suggested that being dehydrated while you sleep could decrease cognitive performance.

As you can see, if you don’t hydrate after waking up, it could impact your day.

But, there’s more.

If that distracted dehydration cycle continues, it could cause other medical issues such as:

And some studies show that loss of fluid equivalent to 2% of body mass is sufficient enough to cause a detectable decrease in performance.

The Institute of Medicine recommends we drink 13 cups (3 liters) of water daily (men); women women should aim for nine cups (a little more 2 liters).

You can also add electrolytes to your water (ex: pink Himalayan salt or electrolyte mixes like the Salt Stick). Coconut water can also be a healthy way to add hydration and electrolytes into your day.

Check the color of your urine.

If you’re staying hydrated, our urine will be mostly clear  maybe slightly yellow.

If you’re dehydrated, you’ll notice darker yellow or even orange urine. This is a “warning” colors to watch for. If you notice those colors, start drinking fluids STAT.

As you may have heard before: “If you feel thirsty, you’re already beyond dehydrated.”

Healthy bodies are made up of about 60 percent water. Let’s keep that healthy body balance.

Cheers to H2O!

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