Water, an oasis in the desert

Dying of thirst sometimes? Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water. By the time we are thirsty, the body has sent signals to the brain to start drinking and we may be near dehydration. The color of urine can be an indicator of dehydration. If it is dark or cloudy you need to get drinking.

As temperatures rise, during exercise and throughout the course of the day, we sweat and our bodies lose fluids. This can easily lead to dehydration. Some symptoms of dehydration are sunken eyes, dry mouth, cramping, headaches and muscle fatigue. When the body becomes dehydrated our total blood volume is decreased, due to a loss of fluid lost through sweating. Since blood plasma is mostly made up of water, the oxygen carrying capability of our blood is decreased causing our working muscles and organs to be deprived of oxygen. Sometimes when we are feeling fatigued or hungry a glass of water is all that's needed to improve physical performance and curb the appetite.

It can help us look better too. Water is a natural beauty aid. Drinking water helps keep our skin supple and hydrated and aids in weight loss by helping us to burn fat efficiently. It helps to flush out toxins and promotes health.

Water is the beverage of choice for healthy people. Sweetened drinks such as soda and iced tea do not have the same effect as water. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics. They signal the kidneys to release water into the urine. If you need that morning cup of coffee to get your engine going, drink water as well. To replace fluids lost during the course of the day in any temperature, take bottled water along in the car, to work, on hikes or to the gym. Drink it consistently throughout the day. A home water filtration system can give you all the pure water you need for a fraction of the cost of bottled water.

rooms StrasbourgEight glasses of water a day is recommended for adequate hydration. If you fall short of the mark it's okay. You can consume water through your diet by eating fruits such as watermelon, peaches, oranges and grapes.