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Full confession: I’m in my mid 40s, grew up in the 1980s and never had a clue that water was an essential part of every day. I am, for lack of a better word, from the soda generation, and my brain was hammered daily with TV commercials featuring the latest thirst-quenching soda. To go even further, there was a full-on “cola war” unfolding all around me, with crystal and boutique colas on the rise as well. And no lie, when I was just entering my teenage years, I honestly thought that the best way to quench my thirst was with Sprite or 7Up (and later “SURGE!”). Most summer days, I would make the daily trudge to the local convenience store for a 24-ounce bottle of whatever clear, lemon-lime flavored soda felt right.
I was, in a word, indoctrinated by television soda commercials, and that belief remained with me until I came across an article about nutrition in a bicycling magazine. The long and short of the message was: stop drinking soda, but if you need something sweet, add some apple juice to your water. When I look back on this state of myself in 1987, it hurts my brain to know that 1) I had zero clue about life and 2) I was definitely dehydrated. (It also hurts my brain to know that I was hurting my brain by not drinking water as a developing teenager.)
I could play victim and point to the poor state of my school lunch room, or I could just fess up and admit that I was a product of the soda generation that put caffeine and sugar before hydration. Thankfully, I’ve grown as a person.
And I know that I need to drink at least half my body weight in ounces of water per day (and much more when exercising), which is no easy task. But here’s the thing: roughly 75% of Americans are dehydrated. A lot of people go through the day and don’t drink as much water as they should. We know the benefits of water, but that doesn’t mean we’re always drinking those eight glasses we’re supposed to.
But in case you think you’re dehydrated, here are the warning signs to look out for.
- Are you thirsty?
- Do you have a dry mouth?
- Is your skin dry?
- Do you have headaches?
- Do you log enough time in the restroom?
- Are you fatigued?
- Do you ever feel dizzy?
- Is your urine dark?
You should always consult with your doctor if you think something isn’t right. Dehydration is serious, even life threatening. Always seek medical attention if you have dehydration associated with rapid heart rate, a drop in blood pressure, confusion, coma, or seizure.
But if you think you’re just thirsty, drink more water. On average, we should be drinking half our body weight in ounces per day. At 170 lbs., my Fitbit is programmed to remind me to drink a staggering 85 ounces of water each day. On stationary days, it can get tedious, but on days where I’m fully active, it’s never a problem. And as an additional reminder, if it’s hot out or you’re exercising, you should always be paying attention to your water intake. But here are a few helpful tips to conquer dehydration.
1. Hydrate as soon as you wake up in the morning.
2. Buy a hydration tracking water bottle.
3. “Eat” your water by eating fruits and vegetables with high water content such as strawberries and melon.
4. Use a hydration app on your phone.
5. Use a flavored water additive, like Nuun, that also offers electrolytes.
6. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
IV Drip Therapy may also help hydrate you, as well as replenish nutrients you’re low on. In addition to dehydration, vitamin deficiencies are also widespread. Helping to re-create your inner balance by replenishing your individual vitamin deficiencies can go a long way to helping you look and feel your best. Additionally, IV Drip Therapy may help boost natural defense systems and support the function of joints and muscles.
Restore your youthful glow, stay hydrated and remember to log your water intake each day!
Learn more about Restore IV Drip Therapy.
