Healthy Lifestyle Tip: Avoid Dehydration with Proper Hydration

SLO County is experiencing record heat which means all of us need to take extra precautions to stay hydrated, especially when working out.

 

Staying hydrated  keeps the body from overheating. When you exercise, your muscles generate heat. To keep from burning up, your body needs to get rid of that heat. The main way the body discards heat in warm weather is through sweat. As sweat evaporates, it cools the tissues beneath. Lots of sweating reduces the body’s water level, and this loss of fluid affects normal bodily functions.

 

Signs of dehydration

If you suspect that someone is dehydrated, seek immediate medical attention. Signs of dehydration include:

• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• flushed skin
• heat intolerance
• light-headedness
• dark-colored urine
• dry cough

The best way to beat dehydration is to drink before you get thirsty. If you wait until after you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.

 

How to avoid dehydration

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, to avoid dehydration, active people should drink at least 16- 20 ounces of fluid one to two hours before an outdoor activity. After that, you should consume 6 to 12 ounces of fluid every 10 to 15 minutes that you are outside. When you are finished with the activity, you should drink more. How much more? To replace what you have lost: at least another 16 to 24 ounces (2- 3 cups) .

 

Drinks: some hydrate, others dehydrate

Some drinks are better than others at preventing dehydration. Water is all you need if you are planning to be active in a low or moderate intensity activity, such as walking, for only an hour or less. If you plan to be exercising longer than that, or if you anticipate being out in the sun for more than a few hours, you may want to hydrate with some kind of sports drink. Our Kennedy Club Fitness Front Desks offer a variety of beverages especially for the purpose of not only replacing fluids, but also chemicals like sodium and potassium, which are lost through perspiration. Too much or too little sodium and potassium in the body can cause trouble. Muscle cramping may be due to a deficiency of electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium.

 

 

Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, teas, and soda, are not recommended for optimal hydration. These fluids tend to pull water from the body and promote dehydration. Fruit juice and fruit drinks may have too many carbohydrates, too little sodium, and may upset the stomach. If you’re going to drink fruit juices while exercising, you may try diluting them with 50% fruit juice and 50% water first.

 

Adequate hydration will keep your summer activities safer and much more enjoyable. If you need to increase your fluid intake, keep an extra pitcher of water with a few slices of fresh lemon, lime, or cucumber in the refrigerator.  If you forget to bring your water to the Club or you’d like to try a  electrolyte replacement beverage, just ask the Front Desk.  We ‘K’ for YOUR HEALTH!

 

 

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/avoiding-dehydration