If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 42-year career in the health field, it’s this:

Our bodies are FAR smarter than we give them credit for, and your body will let you know what it needs and when it needs it.

The key here is that you have to listen!

For example, when your body needs nutrients, you feel hunger.

When it needs rest, you feel tired.

When it’s repairing an injury, you have swelling and inflammation. 

When it’s fighting a cold, you have congestion.

But one area where your body is vaguer in its communication is when it needs water.

I’m talking about dehydration.

Here’s what you need to know about this frequently overlooked but common health issue, and some causes of it you might not be aware of.

You’re all wet…or maybe not

Water is critical to your body--keeping your body hydrated is a MUST for it to function and for you to exist at all. 

Here are some of the impressive functions of the H2O inside of YOU:

• Regulate your body temperature

• Moisten your tissues

• Cushion and protect your organs

• Transport wastes away from your cells

• Lubricate your joints

• Assist your liver and kidneys with detoxification 

• Carry nutrients and oxygen to your cells

• Maintain your blood volume

• Keep digestion efficient

• Maintain your pH in the desirable slightly alkaline range

• Dissolve minerals and other nutrients 

Dehydration—it’s all about demand > supply

Dehydration occurs when the amount of water leaving your body is greater than the amount being put in. 

It can sneak up on you without warning—and you can go from a slight problem to fighting for your life surprisingly quickly.

When dehydration initially occurs, the first signs are increased thirst, dry mouth and dark yellow urine.

Next your body may stop making tears, sweat and urine. Your skin can become dry, your hair brittle, and you get constipated.

Then it can progress into muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, back pain, and decreased energy and cognitive functioning.

At this point your body is trying desperately to maintain cardiac output (the amount of blood that your heart pumps through the body). It compensates by increasing your heart rate and making your blood vessels constrict in an attempt to maintain blood pressure and blood flow to your vital organs. 

Your body also pulls blood away from the skin to give it to the internal organs and this gives your skin a cool, clammy feeling.

If dehydration becomes severe, confusion, weakness and seizures can occur as your brain and other organs aren’t receiving the blood they need. Eventually coma, organ failure and death can result if it remains untreated.

So much more than sweating!

Although most people associate dehydration with sweating in the hot sun, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Here are eight other surprising causes of dehydration:

Diabetes: When blood sugar levels are elevated, your body tries to eliminate the excess glucose through increased urine output, which can dehydrate you.

Menstrual cycle: Estrogen and progesterone influence your body's hydration levels. Plus, the amount of blood loss during heavy menstrual flow can cause dehydration. 

Stress: When you’re under chronic stress, your adrenals work in overdrive secreting adrenaline and cortisol, and eventually they can become exhausted. Since your adrenals also produce the hormone aldosterone (which regulates your fluid levels), dehydration can result when they are pooped out.

The biological clock: As you age, your body's ability to conserve water and its sensation for thirst decline, so dehydration can sneak up on you.

Medications: Many medications act as diuretics—especially high blood pressure drugs.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: A woman’s body has additional fluid needs during pregnancy and for producing breast milk.

Poor diet: One of your body’s primary sources of water is fruits and vegetables. So, if your only “vegetables” of late have been French fries and ketchup, you are at risk for dehydration.

Diarrhea: During digestion, your colon is supposed to absorb water from your wastes…but with diarrhea, it doesn’t get the chance because everything is flying through at the speed of light. So, you can end up dehydrated as a result.

It’s 100 percent preventable!

The good news is that dehydration is virtually 100 percent preventable.

Here’s what you need to do to make sure your body has the fluids it needs to keep all your organs and systems working like they should:

     1. Drink your water

You should be drinking at least eight 8-oz. glasses of filtered water a day at a minimum, and even more if you are:

• Exercising

• Working outdoors in hot weather

• Over age 65

• Pregnant or breastfeeding

• Prone to heavy periods 

Another commonly suggested barometer is to look at how many pounds you weigh and drink at least half that number in ounces of water. For example, a person weighing 150 pounds should drink at least 75 ounces of water a day.

People have often asked if cold or room temperature water is best. There are studies that support both, so in most cases, it’s a matter of personal preference. 

Traditional Ayurvedic practitioners contend that the body needs to expend additional energy to restore its core temperature after drinking very cold water, so they say room temperature is best. 

Some people have reported headaches and other side effects from drinking chilled water, but certainly many others have no problem.

Plus, some like yours truly have sensitive teeth, and drinking ice cold water is uncomfortable.

Do what works for you.

     2. Eat your water

Fresh vegetables and fruits not only give your body much-needed nutrients, but they’re a great source of water (and fiber too).

     3. Keep nutrient levels optimal

Dehydration is not the only consequence of inadequate water intake, especially when combined with sweating.

Because it can also lead to nutrient depletion, especially water-soluble vitamins and minerals.

So, in addition to being mindful of your water intake and including fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet, a full-spectrum multi-vitamin and mineral formula like Super Core can fill in the blanks where your body may be running low and help keep your nutrient levels at optimal ranges.

Don’t let dehydration sneak up on you. See how great you can feel when you stay properly hydrated and nourished, and all your systems can work like they’re supposed to! 

To your health,

Sherry Brescia