Dehydration: Causes and Symptoms

Dehydration is not a disease but an underlying cause of several diseases. Common symptoms include headache, confusion, faintness, dry mouth and nose, dizziness, and thirst. People with certain medical conditions are at risk of dehydration, particularly older people and people with diabetes.

Dehydration is a state when the body has lost too much water and fluids from its system. Dehydration happens when you lose more fluids than you take in. It is a common condition and affects everyone differently. Every person experiences dehydration at some point.

Most of the time, dehydration is mild and you can get back the balance quickly. Dehydration can be caused by many factors, including inadequate fluid intake or excessive perspiration. 

The symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, weakness or fainting, headache, nausea and vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms then it is time to take immediate action. Although mild dehydration can be easily managed and several natural home remedies can be used to treat it, however, in some severe cases only medical attention may help.

Can Dehydration Make You Fat?

Dehydration can make you fat! Yes, it's true. In the winter the cold outside makes you feel thirsty and when you grab a glass of water to drink, your body is not able to absorb the water as per its needs because it is cold. It sits in your stomach for a while until it gets warm and then your body starts to absorb it.

Most often people avoid drinking water because they associate plain water with feeling bloated and suffering from flatulence, thus leading them to opt for other sugary beverages instead.

The truth is, lack of water in our body leads to dehydration which in turn leads to changes in our metabolism, thereby leading to more fat accumulation. 

Dehydration and Metabolism

Working out, walking and running are the main ingredients of a healthy lifestyle. People who do exercise regularly often report that they feel more energetic and lose weight. However, scientists warn that dehydration and metabolism are two interrelated factors that must be observed carefully.

The Body’s Water Needs: It is estimated that the body consists of between 50 and 70 % water. The average person loses between 2 to 3 litres of water daily. In addition to that, urine and sweat, which are excretions, account for more than 1.5 litres of water every day. Dehydration therefore can occur quickly in the summer or when exercising regularly.

The metabolic process is also related to water: Water regulates body temperature and is needed for all biochemical reactions in the body. Water allows nutrients to be absorbed and is responsible for waste excretion from the body.

In the human body, water and salt are not only essential for survival but also help in maintaining ideal body weight. Drinking water helps in maintaining metabolism throughout the day. Water is important for several reasons. It is a solvent for many of the body's hormones, minerals, and nutrients. It also transports nutrients and oxygen around the body and helps remove waste products.

3 Tips To Beat Dehydration While Dieting

In today's digital era, staying hydrated has become more and more challenging. With an increasingly busy lifestyle, it’s not always possible to maintain the 8-10 glasses of water recommended by most doctors. 

There are multiple ways to stay hydrated throughout the day. For example, we can drink water, other forms of fluids such as fruit juice or milk, or even eat water-rich vegetables such as broccoli.

These days, we’re constantly scrolling through social media feeds to keep up with the lives of friends and colleagues. The result? We’ve become less and less present in our own. We are not even aware of our own health and what might be the possible ways how our body is reacting to dehydration. 

When our body gets dehydrated, the loss of energy due to dehydration makes us feel tired. To replenish the lost energy, we tend to eat more and our sugar cravings start to surge. This results in sudden weight gain.

In order to reverse dehydration, you can: 

1. Slow down your caffeine intake.
   
   
2. Increase your intake of fluids and electrolytes (this includes water, green tea, and coconut water).
   
   
3. Eat fewer processed foods and choose lean proteins instead.

Dehydration is one of the top causes of fatigue. When an individual is dehydrated, one may feel weak, tired and lethargic. When sweating excessively, people lose fluids or electrolytes in the form of plasma that is important for the proper functioning of the muscles, nerves and other tissue. In order to win back their lost energy and to prevent dehydration, they must consume fluid, a lot of water and even electrolyte drinks.

Dehydration can lead to a lot of health issues, for that reason, you must consume enough fluids. However, not all fluids are the same. Water, milk and coconut water are some of the best options.

Beating dehydration is a crucial part of overall health and fitness. It has been observed that many people are dehydrated on a daily basis.

In fact, it is the most common medical issue faced by people around the world. While its importance can never be ignored, it is also worth noting that there is no permanent cure for dehydration and hence, it is always important to be prepared from time to time to overcome dehydration to ensure that your body does not suffer from any harmful effects.

The fact is that dehydration is an ailment or condition that is associated with low levels of water in the body and hence, it can be really bad for the body if not prevented at the right time.

Take Away

Dehydration is the body losing more water than it takes in. It can be mild, moderate or severe. Some of the main symptoms of dehydration are fatigue, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, heat exhaustion, fainting, and muscle cramps. Severe dehydration can cause seizures or even death if left untreated.