Every cell in the human body needs water to function properly. We need water to regulate our temperature, protect our joints and organs, and help the digestive system. Most of us drink at least some water every day, but in the summer, when the thermometer's mercury rises, it's important to be more vigilant than ever. Need to increase your hydration IQ?
Here are some of the most common myths of dehydration, not just coffee, accompanied by facts .
Myth: Dehydration is unpleasant, but not dangerous.
Reality: While most of us experience only mild symptoms of dehydration in our lifetime, such as headaches, lethargy or decreased sweating, or going to the bathroom, it can end up in something more serious that requires medical treatment. Serious complications include brain swelling, seizures, kidney failure, and in the extreme, even death.
Fortunately, adults usually suppress mild to moderate symptoms of dehydration at the outset with additional fluid intake . However, if this does not happen, adults may experience extreme thirst, dizziness and confusion. Symptoms should be taken even more seriously in children and the elderly, which may include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, irritability, or confusion.
Myth: Coffee dehydrates you.
Fact: Only if you overdo it.
While caffeine dehydrates from fresh coffee, the water in the coffee (and therefore the tea) more than makes up for that coffee deficiency . Eventually you will be more hydrated than before. According to studies, only 500 or more milligrams of caffeine per day (approximately 5 cups of coffee) can put you at risk of dehydration. You can also choose decaffeinated coffee.
Myth: Everyone needs to drink eight glasses of water a day.
Fact: This general rule is obsolete, promoted especially by companies selling bottled water. So how much do we really need to drink?
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that men drink about three liters of total fluid intake each day, and 2.2 liters for women. Others, however, say there is no need to force ourselves if we are not thirsty. < / p>
Keep in mind that these suggested values do not include water alone. Coffee, tea, fruit juices, and sugary drinks provide your body with more water - although they are not recommended for hydration. Even food counts. About 20 percent of the average person's water intake comes from food, especially foods high in water, such as watermelon or cucumbers.
Myth: There is no such thing as too much water
Fact: Overhydration can be very dangerous - but relatively rare.
Drinking too much water leads to something called hyponatremia, in which sodium levels in the body drop so much that the cells begin to swell. Symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, and fatigue. , and may grow into cramps and coma.
That doesn't mean you don't drink when you're thirsty! Only a really large amount can cause so-called water intoxication. This is why marathon runners suffer more from hyponatremia. If you're still scared, think about this rule: try to drink to the point where you feel full of water itself.
Source: Huffingtonpost.com