Last October during an awful heat wave in San Diego–100+ degrees Fahrenheit, no wind, and constant sweat that did nothing to cool me–I succumbed to heat exhaustion and embarrassed myself in a restaurant. Fortunately, the staff were very understanding and compassionate. They got me water and gave me a chair to sit on in the bathroom while my friend rubbed ice on my head and back.
And I should have known better. I had forgotten my water bottle at home, and instead of drinking water at the restaurant, I was drinking beer.
That incident is a pretty extreme example, but now that summer is upon us, it’s still important for us to keep hydrated.
Regardless of the season, hydration is important, but most people don’t drink enough. According to the Medical Daily, most people are chronically dehydrated and often mistake weakness or headaches to being hungry when they actually need something to drink. Chronic dehydration is dangerous because we need water to digest food and vitamins and helps carry waste away (and in turn, clean out our liver and kidneys).
Drinking water is obviously a good, healthy habit, but during our periods, it’s even more important. Our bodies are already straining to take care of itself, and not drinking enough non-sugary, non-caffeinated fluids–which can actually dehydrate you even more–leads to more painful cramps, fatigue, and high blood pressure. Plus, we’re already losing more fluid during our periods, which leaves us feeling weaker and more tired.
Some of us may be concerned about feeling bloated during our periods and may avoid water because of it. However, despite common belief, drinking too much water DOES NOT make you bloated. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Bloating is a sign of dehydration and consequently, more painful cramps. And we don’t want that, do we?
So keep drinking water, ladies! Even if you’re not thirsty, you should be sipping on water throughout the day. For me, I always have a full glass with me. For those of us on the go, you should invest in a reusable water bottle to carry with you.
If you’re not sure how much water you should be drinking, Slender Kitchen has a handy formula (http://www.slenderkitchen.com/how-to-calculate-how-much-water-you-should-drink-a-day/) for you to use to calculate your recommended water intake. For me, I should be drinking nearly 4 liters of water a day. Whoa! If that seems unattainable, their site also has tips on how to reach your goal.
So try it out and stay cool during the summer!
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