Dehydration: What You Need to Know

Water is part of every cell, tissue and organ in our bodies. Yet 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (most without even realizing it) and continue to consume acidic beverages like soda and alcohol that are dehydrating to the body, instead of the water that our bodies so desperately crave.

New research published in the journal of Nutrition reveals the importance of staying optimally hydrated. Over three days, a group of 25 young women were subjected to exercise-induced dehydration, and their cognitive performance, mood, and symptoms of dehydration were measured during rest and during exercise. At just over 1% dehydration level, subjects showed a mood change for the worse, and concentration, headache symptoms, and task difficulty were also affected.

A separate study found that mild dehydration can effect physical performance as well. The motor performance of golfers's game, including shot distance, target accuracy, and distance judgment, was tested at different dehydration levels. Their results were better when they were fully hydrated than when they were tested at between 1-3% dehydration levels. Thus, it is important to hydrate before, during, and after exercise.
Contrary to popular belief, our thirst mechanisms are actually quite weak and usually do not kick in until we are already midly dehydrated. Sometimes we also mistake thirst for hunger, and drinking a glass of water instead of eating can usually curb hunger pangs. Common signs of dehydration inlcude headaches, dry skin, dark urine, dry mouth, fatigue, nausea, chills, head rushes, and skin flushing.
Your body loses approximately half its weight in ounces through normal everyday functions like perspiration, exhalation, urination and deification. Therefore it is recommended that you drink a minimum of half of your body weight in ounces daily in order to replace the water lost and to prevent dehydration. If you are physically active, in a hot climate, running a fever or having diarrhea or vomiting it is recommended that you drink even more to keep up with the extra water loss.

The healthiest and most hydrating drinking water of all is alkaline ionized water which is found in nature and can be recreated at your tap through the use of a water ionizer. Our bodies crave alkaline water at about a 9.5 pH level and thrive in a mildly alkaline envio
ment. Most tap waters have a pH of 7.0 and most bottled waters have a pH level of 3.5. In addition to being alkaline, ionized water is also microclustered which allows it to penetrate your cells deeper to aid in detoxification and deeper hydration, and is full of bioavailable minerals and antioxidants.
Here are some tips for increasing your daily water intake:
-Drink 1-2 glasses of water the first thing in the morning when you wake up to start the day off right
-Carry a BPA-free water bottle with you for easy access on-the-go
-Choose alkaline ionized water instead of other beverages (substituting water for one 20-ounce soda will save you about 240 calories!) -Sip water in between meals
-Since adding flavor to water has been found to help people drink more than when left unflavored, try garnishing with a slice of lemon, lime, cucumber or kiwi fruit
-Add more water dense foods like broccoli, zucchini, watermelon, lettuce, and tomatoes to your diet

Visit www.chansonwater.com for more information on the benefits of alkaline ionized water.