Summer is Coming – Are you Hydrated Enough?
As we know, water is key to survival and when we live in a warm humid environment such as that of Queensland, it is much easier to lose large amounts of water on a regular basis without realising we aren’t replacing it.
If you’re thirsty, that’s the most obvious sign you’re dehydrated, meaning your body doesn’t have enough fluid to function properly, however being dehydrated doesn’t just mean your body is losing water — it also means you’re losing electrolytes, such as salt and potassium, which help your body breathe, move, talk, and do all the other things it needs to do to stay up and running.
In addition to losing water in the ‘usual’ ways such as exercise and sweating from climate, we can become dehydrated without realising it via disease, being vulnerable (ie the elderly and the young), taking medication, poor diet and more.
How do I know if I’m dehydrated?
- Some of the common symptoms include very dry skin which remains “tented” after being pinched and takes some time to return to its normal, flat appearance
- Muscle cramps can also occur while exercising, particularly in hot weather. As the muscles work harder and harder, they can seize up from the heat itself. Changes in the electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, can lead to muscle cramping as well.
- Dehydration can also cause a headache and trigger a migraine.
- More severe dehydration symptoms include fever, dizziness, chills, tiredness and more.
Best Ways to Beat Symptoms and Stay Hydrated
- #1 Drink enough water. There is plenty of debate on how much water we should be drinking but a good rule of thumb is you should not feel thirsty and your urine should not be a darker yellow than usual. Adult women need about around 2L and adult men need about around 2.5L of fluid a day.
- Eat plenty of high eater content fruit and veg such as melons, berries, cucumber and lettuce.
- Use a good quality, low sugar electrolyte drink if needed after working out or sweating profusely.
- Use good quality face and body products that offer both hydrating and moisturising attributes. This means they both increase water content in the skin as well as keep it from losing moisture. Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe, glycerin, ceramides and fatty oils. In our Botanique Skin Nutrition range, we recommend:
