Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
THIS summer has been a scorcher, and many of us would have found ourselves feeling more thirsty than ever. It is important that we respond to this thirst and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
According to nutritionist Donovan Grant, we would have lost water from our skin which would have kept us cool, so we need to replace it.
Hydration goes beyond quenching one’s thirst because the body is made up of 65 to 70 per cent water. The need to be properly saturated internally with water is important, as it improves the health of the body, makes us look good, and helps to ward off certain medical complications.
All Woman looks at the many benefits of refuelling properly with H2O.
Helps blood
According to the nutritionist, water helps to keep the concentration of blood constant. He added that it also helps diabetics by reducing the sugar level in the blood. One of the best warning signs that glucose levels are high is thirst, and water is the best way to quench that thirst and break down those sugars.
Helps labour process for pregnant women
Being dehydrated decreases the intensity of contractions in the labour process. The book, Labour and Delivery Nursing by Michelle L Murray and Gayle M Huelsmann, states: “Hydration affects the duration of labour. A well-hydrated woman should have a shorter labour than a dehydrated woman. Dehydration is not just too little body fluids, it also includes an electrolyte deficiency. Dehydration is related to maternal fatigue, which may have an impact on her pain tolerance and ability to push her baby out. During labour, it is suspected that a dehydrated uterus will not contract well, and may even result in poor labour progress.” (p 35)
Increased Energy
Dr Belinda Morrison, consultant urologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, further explains that hydration replaces water that is lost during exercise and also assists in improving the results of exercise. Grant added that a good amount of water is lost while exercising, and if not replaced will cause iron imbalance, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fainting, and may result in high blood pressure. He advises that plain water has zero calories, as opposed to coconut water, but if an individual consumes coconut water, which contains electrolytes, it would be better in terms of balance.
Prevents Diseases
Morrison said proper hydration helps with the reduction in the risk of developing kidney or renal tract stones. She said it helps with prevention of and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI) and added that it helps with maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails.
The nutritionist said that too little water may result in the body becoming toxic and can also constipation. Of special note for older women, being properly hydrated is that it will reduce hot flashes.
But just as dehydration can become dangerous and in extreme cases cause death, it is possible to be overly hydrated, and Grant and Morrison cautioned against drinking too much water at once.
Grant said water can affect stomach enzymes by diluting them, and the breakdown of food will be subsequently affected. Being overly hydrated will put the body under stress of balancing liquids and organs, like the kidneys and skin, will go into overdrive.
Additionally, if the body retains too much water Grant said the possibility of the blood being diluted exists and a woman may suffer water retention and find that the body swells up.
Morrison advised, however, that each person’s daily intake of water will vary, but it should be a minimum of one and a half to two litres daily. She said this should be increased to compensate for increased loss from sources such as sweating, exercising or diarrhoea.
It is advised thst individuals travel with a bottle of water to ensure they remain hydrated, as well as snack on fruits like watermelons, which are high in water content.
