With the rapid rise in unprecedented health issues, people are nowadays becoming more health conscious. However, there is a long-standing debate about dehydration and water consumption.
Believe it or not, the human body cannot function properly without water. Every cell inside the body requires a certain amount of water. This is important for homeostasis, rejuvenation, hormonal activities, neurotransmitter transport, and other physiological functions. If the human body loses a specific amount of water affecting overall health, the state is called dehydration. However, there are numerous myths surrounding Dehydration. Let's debunk those myths.
Myth: Dehydration can make you uncomfortable, but it's not so dangerous.
Fact: This is an utterly wrong concept. The most common symptoms of dehydration are sluggishness, headache, and decreased urine. Persistent dehydration of the human body can lead to serious health consequences like seizures, swelling of the brain, kidney failure, or even death. So, don't ignore dehydration. It can be lethal.
Myth: Every human being must drink 8 glasses of water regularly.
Fact: No, everyone doesn't have to Drink so much water daily. Because the water requirement variesfrom person to person. In earlier days, people used to warn others to avoid dehydration by quoting this. Scientifically, a person's water demand can be fulfilled by even 3-4 glasses or even 8-10 glasses based on the health condition. Basically, there is no thumb rule in drinking water. As mentioned earlier, drink the optimum amount of water when feeling thirsty.
Myth: Clear urine indicates you have sufficient water inside the body.
Fact: This is another long-standing concept about the content of water inside the body. Most people follow this during the summer months to check the water requirement. Color is not an indication of water content, instead, focuses on the quantity of urine. If the amount of urine is less, then you are surely dehydrated.
Myth: Coffee and tea dehydrate your body.
Fact: No, the optimal amount of energy drinks cannot dehydrate you. But, if you are drinking in a higher amount, it will surely dehydrate you. So, always take care of your caffeine intake.
Myth: Always drink a high amount of water to avoid dehydration.
Fact: Some people really consume a high amount of water to avoid dehydration. This is an unhealthy habit. It may lead to hyponatremia or water toxicity. In this condition, electrolyte concentration decreases and puts pressure on the kidney. This can be lethal, so don't overdrink water.
Myth: Drinking water is the only option to get hydrated.
Fact: No, there are numerous options to rehydrate your body. Some vegetables and fruits can rehydrate at a very faster rate. They are cucumber, kiwi, strawberry, cantaloupe, grapefruit, watercress, radishes, and so on. So, do not rely only on the water to rehydrate your body. Try some fruit juices too.
So, stay away from these dehydration myths for a healthy lifestyle.
