Less Obvious Causes of Dehydration
Water – your body needs it so much. 60 per cent or ¾ of your body is water. So lose even just 1.5 per cent of that level, and you can expect a decline in your mood, energy levels and cognitive function. Whilst some reasons of dehydration are obvious – such as exercise, a sunny day, and not drinking enough water, others are less obvious.
These are the less known reasons for dehydration:
Diabetes
People with diabetes are at an increased risk of dehydration. When your blood sugars are too high, your body tries to get rid of excess glucose through increased urination. And all those extra visits to the bathroom can be dehydrating. If you’re diabetic and suffer from frequent thirst or urination, talk to your doctor about how you can work together to improve your blood sugar control. If you are experiencing excessive thirst along with other diabetes symptoms, talk to your doctor today.
Stress
When you’re stressed, your body produces excessive levels of stress hormones and your adrenals become exhausted. The adrenals also play a role in manufacturing hormone aldosterone, which helps regulate your body’s levels of fluid and electrolytes. Adrenal fatigue thus causes a drop in your aldosterone levels, triggering dehydration and low electrolyte levels.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your overall blood volume and cardiac output increase. Sadly, this also increases your water requirements. Not only that, the nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness can also take their toll on hydration levels
Dietary Supplements
Just because they are natural doesn’t mean they don’t have any effect in your bladder function. If you are thinking of taking dietary supplements, or already taking one, it is best to speak with a nutritionist, primary care doctor, or naturopathic physician to learn about its potential side effects.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The symptoms of IBS, particularly nausea and chronic diarrhoea, can cause dehydration. What’s more, many people who suffer from IBS tend to eliminate certain foods from their diets which they believe trigger their condition. If those foods are high in water content, their risk of dehydration gets even higher.
Ageing
Your body’s ability to conserve water, as well as your sensation for thirst, decline with age. That means it’s easier so become dehydrated and more difficult to tell when you’re fluids are low. If you have troubles remembering to drink water, keep a bottle of water nearby or make a reminder.
Drinking Alcohol
Drinking makes you go to the bathroom more frequently and that causes dehydration. Furthermore, alcohol impairs your ability to sense the early signs of dehydration so it’s easier to go way below your hydration levels.
Eating too few vegies and fruits
Fruits and vegetables are sources of water. Filling half of your plate with these can supply your body with additional 2 cups of water! So make sure you are getting your five-a-day of fruits and vegetables.
Low-Carb Diets
Carbohydrates are stored in your body right along with fluids. That’s why you drop a couple pounds of water weight when you eliminate carbs. Whole sources of carbohydrates, such as oatmeal, whole grain pasta and brown rice can actually increase your hydration levels.
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