One often forgotten, but important, activity for good health is to stay hydrated. It’s simple to understand why it’s so important. Your body is made mostly of water. While the percentage of water varies based on sex and age, the body contains approximately 55-65 % water. The older you get, the less fluid your body has, making dehydration for seniors more of a problem. Your body also needs it for a wide variety of processes and if it’s not available, those processes either aren’t completed or don’t give the results necessary.
Water can help you lose weight.
It’s amazing how water can satisfy your hunger, but it does. That’s because you’re not always hungry, but thirsty. Sometimes, the messages get messed up and you’re ready to eat anything juicy. Foods high in water often have fewer calories, but you don’t always have them available, so will eat anything to satisfy the urge. Drink a glass of water and you’ll be amazed at how it satisfies that hunger. Better yet, carry water with you and sip it throughout the day. You’ll be less likely to grab a snack and have energy to spare. If you’re fighting water weight, drink more water. It acts like a diuretic for excess fluid in the body.
Your body won’t function properly when you’re dehydrated.
Dehydration can be serious. Since you need water to perform many functions, dehydration can cause serious consequences. Your body temperature is regulated with the help of water, but also water is one of the building blocks for cells. Water helps you eliminate waste material from the body and protects the brain by absorbing the shocks. It lubricates the joints and prevents them from becoming achy.
There’s no need for coffee when you have water.
Water can be the quicker picker-upper. If you’re running low on water, your muscles will ache, but also you’ll feel tired and run down. Most people head for the coffee pot, but that might just add to the exhaustion. Coffee has caffeine, which is a diuretic and can actually deplete your body of as much fluid as it provides. The muscle fatigue you’re feeling may come from dehydration. It can actually impede your athletic performance and even academic performance. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and two eight ounce glasses two hours before exercising.
- All organs contain water, but the amount varies. The heart and brain contains 73 % water, the lungs have 83% and muscles and kidneys contain 79%.
- If you want to eat less at a meal, drink an 8 oz glass of water before you sit down to eat. Make it ice cold water and you’ll be burning extra calories to warm your body back to normal.
- Seniors dehydrate faster than younger people. Since one of the signs of dehydration is mental confusion, it’s often mistaken for dementia. Dehydration also causes UTIs by reducing the fluid to flush out bacteria. It may be another signal that seniors need more fluid.
- Staying hydrated is also important for your skin. You’ll look years younger when you’re adequately hydrated. It won’t create a miracle, since excess water goes to urine, but it will prevent premature drying.