If you’re anything like us, being more hydrated is step one of meeting your health and wellness goals for 2022 - we all know how important it is for optimal performance.
Every cell of our bodies relies on water to work properly, so maintaining healthy levels of hydration is key to our very survival.
While we’ve all heard about the benefits of staying hydrated, there are still some myths out there about what hydration means, how it benefits your body and what you can do to maintain it.
Luckily your friendly neighborhood Zhou blog is here to help you understand the truth about staying hydrated.
6 Truths You Probably Didn’t Know About Proper Hydration
You actually can drink too much water.
For most of us, overdoing it a bit on the water will just cause us to spend extra time around the bathroom, but for some, going hard on hydration could be a true medical concern.
Known as hyponatremia, water toxicity can especially impact those with extremely intense exercise regimens and certain other risk factors.
Even taking some medications can put you at risk of this illness that results in abnormally low blood sodium causing nausea and vomiting and possibly more severe reactions requiring emergency medical attention.
Remember, healthy hydration varies slightly for each individual but can be achieved by most by drinking about 15.5 cups for men and 11.5 cups for women each day, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It’s not just about how much water you drink.
You don’t just have to stick to plain water to keep your hydration game tight.
A healthy diet, rich in fruits and veggies along with other liquids, will also support better hydration. In fact, you can get about 20% of your water needs through the food you eat daily.
Watery fruits and vegetables, like watermelon and spinach, are great ways to support healthy hydration. Plus, they have the added bonus of providing us with other nutrients we can’t get from drinking plain water alone.
Don’t forget the power of a good night’s sleep.
A recent study found that people who aren’t getting adequate sleep are also more likely to be dehydrated.
Those who got six hours or less of sleep each night had a higher incidence of dehydration when compared to those who were getting at least eight hours.
Further proof that we all need a self care night routine to help us catch our needed zz’s.
Pregaming a meal with water can help you lose weight.
If one of your goals is shaving off a few extra pounds, having a glass of water before your meal can help.
Many find that drinking water before eating helps with satiety, providing a feeling of fullness that may encourage you to consume less of your meal when you sit down to eat.
Hard work requires hard hydrating.
Sometimes water isn’t doing the trick.
After an intense, sweaty workout it’s essential to stay hydrated to increase recovery time and avoid muscle weakness.
For those participating in high level, vigorous exercise, an electrolyte-replacing option like our Lyte Up product is a great option for those who require a little extra oomph to maintain or replenish hydration.
Your skin and hair will thank you too.
Proper hydration helps keep your skin, including your scalp, from experiencing dryness and cracking that leads to itchiness and other discomforts.
Bonus: being well hydrated helps with a healthier appearance too!
When skin is dehydrated it tends to look dull and fine lines are accentuated. The same is true for your hair as dehydration causes it to appear more dull and stringy.
When your skin is sufficiently hydrated it can seem more radiant and younger-looking thanks to the added elasticity hydration provides. And your hair will thank you too!
Hydrated hair is often stronger and shinier thanks to the higher levels of keratin you can maintain with proper hydration.
When it comes to overall health and wellness, there’s no doubt that being well hydrated will help your body reach peak performance and shine from the inside out!
