Here in the Arizona Valley, temperatures easily reach 110+ degrees and stay that way for days. Save for staying in the air conditioning and eating frozen treats, how do you beat the summer heat? The best thing you can do to keep cool is staying hydrated in the desert! After all, your body is 60% water!
But did you know hydration does more than keep you cool? It also boosts your physical performance, helps your body function, and can help you lose weight! How, you ask? Keep reading to find out.
How Much Water Do I Need to Drink?
According to the Mayo Clinic, men should drink about 13 cups of total water per day and women should drink about 9 cups per day. This all changes when you factor in the desert heat.
In Arizona summers, your body needs significantly more water! 2-1-1 Arizona, the state’s community information service, suggests drinking 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes (if you’re outside) to stay hydrated. Keep in mind, you only need to do this if you’re spending time outside or doing strenuous activity in the heat.
You can also get ample hydration from eating fruits and vegetables, like cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, or celery.
If you want to try something different, why not try IV hydration therapy? IV therapy surpasses your body’s digestive system and places fluids and electrolytes directly into your bloodstream. An IV has a consistently higher rate of absorption at 90%. That means whatever hydration or vitamin goodness you choose to put in your treatment will be absorbed into your bloodstream.
You also feel IV therapy faster than if you were to drink water, because it bypasses your digestive system completely! So if you’re feeling dehydrated or in need of a pick-me-up, then IV therapy may be the better option for you.
Signs of Dehydration
Before we get into the benefits of being hydrated, you need to learn how to spot dehydration symptoms. Dehydration happens when your body is losing more water than it takes in. It can lead to serious medical complications if you don’t take care of it right away. Some of the early and common signs are:
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Extreme thirst
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Less frequent urination
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Dark-colored urine
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Fatigue
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Dizziness
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Confusion
Dehydration can have a noticeable effect if you lose as little as 2% of your body’s water content!
How Does Hydration Help?
Water is key to regulating many of your body’s natural functions. Proper hydration even enhances them!
Water Helps to Maximize Physical Performance
If we do not stay hydrated, physical performance can suffer — especially during intense exercise or high temperatures. Dehydration (which begins after you lose 2% of your body’s water content!) can lead to altered body temperature control, reduced motivation, increased fatigue and make exercise feel harder.
Optimal hydration keeps you motivated and may even reduce the oxidative stress that gathers in your muscles during exercise! This is not surprising when you consider that muscle is about 80% water
Hydration Has Helped You Function!
Studies show that even mild dehydration can impair how your body and brain functions.
Young women who lost 1.36% of fluids in a study found that their mood and exercise performance, and concentration were impacted. They also reported having headaches. In men, losing 1.59% of fluids had the same effect.
Hydration Helps Prevent Hangovers
A hangover is the unpleasant feeling after you drink too much alcohol. It usually happens the morning after a night of partying. There’s no judgement here, either! Everyone has a little too much fun from time to time — it happens!
It seems self explanatory, but drinking water can prevent a hangover — or, at the very least, reduce the symptoms. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it makes you lose more water than you take in. This can lead to dehydration, which is one of the triggers for a hangover.
If you have a hangover, drinking water or using IV therapy can provide relief!
Drinking More Water Can Help With Weight Loss
Did you know that drinking plenty of water consistently can actually help you lose weight? Sure, too much water in one sitting can make you gain “water weight,” but that is temporary! Over time, staying hydrated helps you feel fuller, longer, and boosts your metabolism.
In two studies, drinking 17 ounces of water was shown to increase metabolism by 24-30% for up to 1.5 hours
Timing is everything! Drinking water half an hour before meals is the most effective. It can make you feel more full so you eat less!
The Power of Hydration
Staying hydrated is more important than you may realize. It does more than what we listed and is vital in regulating your body and brain. Thankfully, there are more ways to get hydrated and stay hydrated than just drinking water. Try eating fluid-rich fruits and vegetables or swapping out water on occasion with drinks with electrolytes.
If you’re interested in trying something new, give us a call at IV Revival to request an appointment for IV hydration therapy!