Life can be stressful enough as it is so the additional stress from dehydration is something that can easily be avoided. Relieving stress can be as simple as having a glass of water. It may sound too good to be true, but if you think about how much our bodies rely on water, it all starts to make sense.
Here are a few little fun facts:
- Our bodies are made up of 65% water
- Human blood is 83% water, bones are 25%, brains are 75%
- All of our organs require water to function
- We lose over 64 ounces of water every day through perspiration
- Hydration is critical to blood circulation
- Water helps break down carbohydrates, fat and protein
When we don’t get enough water, this leads to dehydration, and it increases cortisol levels, which is the hormone responsible for stress. If you’re going through a stressful time, you forget to drink/eat, your heart rate increases, causing you to breath heavily, which means you lose more water.
Stress causes dehydration and dehydration causes stress – it’s an ongoing cycle.
So how do we solve this? Simple - By regulating our water intake and staying on top of our water levels every moment of every day.
How can you tell you’re dehydrated?
- Have a look at the colour of your pee. You can read more about it here.
- If you’re feeling thirsty that’s a sign you’re already dehydrated
How to get more water into your body?
- Eat more foods with high water content
- Infuse your water to add flavour
- Invest in a good quality drink bottle
- Use a time marked water bottle to keep you accountable
- Carry a bottle with you everywhere you go