Are You Getting Enough Water? Tips To Keep Yourself Hydrated

An important question you should ask yourself daily is, “Did I drink enough water today?” If you’re like most Americans, the answer is probably, “no.” About 75 percent of adults are chronically dehydrated, meaning they’re losing more fluids (primarily from sweating or urinating) than they’re taking in.  

Instead of accepting that you may be dehydrated, it’s essential to understand the importance of hydration and how easy it can be to ensure you’re getting enough fluids daily. 

Why Is Hydration Important?

The human body contains a lot of water and needs water to function. Knowing that water is essential to life, it’s probably no surprise that good hydration leads to healthy aging.  According to a recent study, better-hydrated adults develop less chronic health conditions like heart disease. Hydrated individuals also tend to live longer and have a healthier overall quality of life. 

Tips To Stay Hydrated

If you’re having trouble getting enough fluids throughout the day, consider these tips to help you stay healthy and hydrated. 

• Get a water bottle that can travel with you. One of the biggest barriers to staying hydrated is remembering to drink water. Invest in a water bottle, habitually fill it every morning, and take it everywhere you go. The more access you have to water, the more likely you are to drink it. 
• Eat water-rich foods. Drinking water is not the only way to hydrate your body. You can also get fluids from foods. Try incorporating more water-rich foods into your diet, such as watermelon, strawberries, and celery. 
• Get your electrolytes. Electrolytes are vitamins and minerals, some of which are essential for helping your body retain water. Magnesium, potassium, and sodium are major electrolytes that help with hydration. You can get these from foods or electrolyte supplements that you can easily add to your water. 
• Change up your water. Drinking plain water can get boring. Switch up your water options with sparkling or naturally-flavored water. You’ll get the same hydration benefits, but it’ll feel like you’re drinking something new. 
• Limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol dehydrates the body, which is why you don’t feel well if you drink too much alcohol. Limit your alcohol throughout the week, and when you are drinking, make sure you’re continuing to get plenty of water. 
• Drink more water when it’s hot and you’re sweating. When it’s hot out, you’re going to sweat. And when you sweat, you lose fluids, increasing your dehydration risk. On hot days, make sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids, especially when spending time outdoors. 
• Understand how your medications may affect your hydration. Some prescription medications may cause you to urinate or sweat more frequently. Medications may also lead to side effects like vomiting or diarrhea, which can cause dehydration. Talk to your doctor about your prescription meds to understand how they may affect your hydration.  

Staying Hydrated With Visiting Angels

It’s easy to forget to hydrate, but the compassionate caregivers at Visiting Angels can help you with that. Our caregivers can also assist with basic household tasks like cooking and cleaning, transportation to appointments, medication reminders, mobility, and other nonmedical care.  

Contact our Garland office to schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about at-home care services with Visiting Angels.