#fluidintake

Water is the foundation of life — it is both what keeps us alive and what we are made of. No matter who you are or where you are in the world, the need for water remains a universal necessity.

Drinking water is essential to maintaining the health of your body, but sometimes, this tends to get overlooked. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, drinking water has become an afterthought, something you do when your throat feels a little dry.

The thing is, hydrating your body is more than just quenching your thirst — it’s about maintaining your fluid balance to ensure that you live long and well!

What Is Fluid Balance?

To be your best, you need to feel your best. One’s performance depends significantly on their water intake, as staying hydrated keeps your body in balance and helps the body function at optimal levels.

Fluid balance describes the balance of the intake and output of fluids in your body. Maintaining this balance helps your body regulate heat transfer, maintain cardiovascular function, improve exercise performance, and recover faster.

On the other hand, fluid imbalance occurs when your body either has too much fluids inside or too little. Below are two types of fluid intake imbalance:

Causes of Dehydration

Besides failing to drink enough fluids, you can also lose more water through:

Vomiting;

Diarrhoea;

Fever;

Excessive sweating; or

Urination.

When your body’s hydration is insufficient, you may experience nausea, headaches, and muscle cramping. Severe dehydration could also cause you to have very dry skin, lack of energy, and fainting. Meanwhile, prolonged dehydration could even lead to serious medical conditions, like decreased kidney function!

Overhydration

Who knew drinking water could be bad for you? Just as insufficient fluid intake can harm your body, too much water can also negatively affect you. Yes, water is good for you, but anything in excess is dangerous to the body.

When the fluid that enters your body outweighs the fluid that exits your body, you risk getting hyponatremia. Too much water would dilute the amount of salt and electrolytes in your body, causing a dramatic and dangerous drop in your sodium levels.

Achieving Balance

Maintaining the body’s fluid balance is vital to having a healthy and happy life. Achieving balance isn’t as easy as drinking eight glasses of water a day. Each body is diverse, with factors like genetics, body size, fitness level, and exposure to different environmental conditions affecting how much water a person needs.

More than just drinking water, you also need to have the proper diet, lifestyle, and practices to maintain your fluid balance, such as:

Bringing Your Water With You

No one dehydrates themselves on purpose — there are times when you get too busy or preoccupied with other matters that drinking water becomes less of a priority. But, when you have a reusable water bottle beside you, you will always remember to replenish your body with enough water throughout the day.

Eating Water-Rich Food

Some fruits and vegetables contain plenty of water, besides other nutrients. Examples of these are watermelons, strawberries, pineapples, cucumbers, leafy greens, and tomatoes.

Drinking-Water Alternatives

Drinking plain water can get boring, but you can make hydration enjoyable too! Drinking other types of fluids can help you if you’re struggling with consistently drinking water. You can add flavour to your water by adding a splash of juice or seltzer, drinking sports drinks, or having soup.

Conclusion

Water has contributed significantly to Olympic athletes’ victories and has helped with technological advancements by nurturing the minds of the world’s smartest individuals. It is simply an integral part of life — a key component in having a perfectly healthy body and mind. If you want to live long and live well, fill up your reusable water bottle and get moving.

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