10 Signs That You, Your Kids or Seniors are Dehydrated

During these hot summer months, it's more important than ever to be aware of possible dehydration.   Many times, it's not something we would even consider. In fact, my dad was hospitalized from severe dehydration a few years back. But we had no idea.   He was not his confident self and became confused. It was scary.   In a world where we think any confusion may be the big "A" or Alzheimer's, we NEVER would have guessed it was dehydration. However, once he got the water and minerals he needed, he was quickly back to his old self.   Do you have any of the following?  

• Fatigue/lethargy
• Constipation
• Hallucinations
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Dry tongue
• Coated tongue
• Vertical ridges on your nails
• Dry skin
• Poor skin elasticity

  These are all signs of dehydration.   Even if you don't notice any of these signs, you could still be water-deficient. It's extremely common, especially in those with thyroid issues.   Here's the formula for your recommended water intake:   Take your weight in pounds and divide in half. That amount in ounces is your recommended water intake.   That number divided by 8 equals the number of glasses you should drink every day.   OK, if you're not a math whiz, here's an example. If you weigh 150 pounds, you need half of that amount - 75 ounces - of water per day. Dividing 75 by 8 (go ahead and use a calculator if you want, no one will know) means you need to drink about 9 glasses of water per day at an average of 8 ounces per glass.   To make it even simpler - get one of those big water bottles and load it up in the morning, while sipping on it through the day OR simply drink 5 large water bottles (16 oz.) a day.   By the way, water means water only or seltzer NOT flavored water, sports drinks, coffee or tea. While they may have water in them, they don't qualify as pure hydration from water.   Also, it's important to have plenty of salt. By salt, I mean the pure salt loaded with minerals your body needs to help retain the water.   Yes, you NEED salt for life and to keep water inside your cells. Skip the white, bleached salt and processed sodium in processed and packaged foods and use pink Himalayan sea salt (my personal fave) and Celtic salt generously.   Taking supplemental magnesium is also helpful (in the form of magnesium glycinate or theonate).   Here are some other tips to prevent water loss that could lead to dehydration:

• Avoid overloading on caffeine
• Avoid soda
• Take it easy on the alcoholic beverages

  Water Facts

• 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This likely applies to half the world's population. If you get thirsty often you may have been dehydrated for a long time already.
• If you're trying to release weight, be aware. Dehydration slows down your metabolism. Even MILD dehydration will slow the metabolism as much as 3%.
• Dehydration leads to tight, thin skin that wrinkles easily (Well, that just motivates me even more to drink lots of water!).
• In 37% of people, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
• One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
• Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
• Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
• A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. Give me moore water!
• Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and makes you 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

  Got Water?   P.S. If you struggle with any one food that you would not like to love any more, one of my new tools can help to eliminate your desire for it.   Yes, it means that craving for those waffle fries or those chocolate chip cookies seem to disappear. Poof! Sign up here for a quick free chat to check it out.     "It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities." Live well and love more, Jill Gordon CHHC, HHC, CNHP, Digestive Health Specialist www.JilltheHealthCoach.com     All material in this newsletter is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this publication. Instead readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information provided has not been approved the Food & Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease.