There’s one common pitfall that catches us guys by surprise. It strikes when your body loses more water than it takes in. The pitfall? Dehydration. Read on to find out how you can avoid this common challenge and gain a sweet boost of energy at the same time!

Common reasons for dehydration:
You know those forgettable days when vomiting or diarrhea strikes; the old expression “better out than in” definitely doesn’t apply to water! The main takeaway here, you don’t need to be sick to be dehydrated. For example, when you’re busy at work, it’s really easy to get caught up in your day to day tasks and find yourself feeling thirsty . Alternatively, you could be relaxing in your man cave, and before you know it, end up drinking a beer or three. Trouble is, alcohol is a diuretic, which is something that makes you head to the bathroom more often. If you don’t replenish this lost water, for any reason, you can become dehydrated.

How to tell if your water balance is off:

  • Thirst: Our bodies let us know when we need more H2O. Make sure you listen! Dry mouth, lips and eyes: These typically moist parts of the body are the first to show symptoms of dehydration.
  • Fewer bathroom breaks: Because our bodies are trying to hold onto water, dehydration will make you urinate less often.
  • Darker-coloured urine: When we pee less, the waste products in our urine become more concentrated.
  • Dizziness and fatigue: Dehydration can cause a drop in blood pressure, which in turn can make you feel tired and/or faint.
  • Headaches: Are a common, but unexplained, symptom of dehydration.

Replacing lost water is easy:

You can replace lost water by simply drinking more. Keeping a refillable water bottle full and handy at your desk, in your car or wherever you spend a lot of time is an easy addition to your routine, and you’ll feel way better as you go through your day.

So let’s all raise a glass of water…to water!

References:

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), Dehydration