The Dangers of Dehydration in Summer
The weather in Bangladesh is always hot during the month of April and May. However, this year, the heat is extremely high. Due to the intensity of summer heat, many suffer from dehydration, which is not a good sign for the body. Dry throat, urination problems, tiredness, constipation, weakness, nausea, headache, and dry skin are some of the major symptoms of dehydration. Besides, dehydration negatively affects many organs like kidneys, brain, liver, stomach, and lungs.
How to Stay Hydrated During Summer
Water is one of the essential parts of life, which stands second only after oxygen in terms of body requirements. Experts advise drinking at least 2.7 liters or 8-10 glasses of water per day. Drinking enough water helps us to maintain a proper balance of electrolytes in the body. Our bodies are relatively more active when we go outside.
This is why we lose a lot of water as sweat from our bodies when we go out in hot and humid weather conditions. Dehydration occurs when the body sweats continuously, thus leading to a decrease in water and salt levels from the body. The best way to know whether your body really is hydrated is to observe the color of your urine. If the color of urine is yellow, then your body is dehydrated. In this case, drinking water after frequent intervals is necessary.
The Importance of Drinking Water
We should drink water even before we feel thirsty. This is because of the fact that we feel thirst only after our body has already lost about 2 cups of water. When the body is dehydrated, the cells send a signal to the hypothalamus, which releases a hormone called vasopressin. Moreover, the body needs fluids to make blood as well. When the body lacks water, the blood volume decreases. As a result of this, problems such as low blood pressure, weakness, etc. may occur.
The Effects of Dehydration on the Body
To prevent dehydration, we should avoid soft drinks, tea and coffee as much as possible. This is because ingredients such sugar and sodium which are present in such drinks absorb water from body tissues. To properly hydrate ourselves, we should choose food items that are able to fulfill the water shortage in our bodies.
Vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and fruits such as sugarcane, watermelon, coconut water, strawberry, apple, orange, /malta etc. are very effective in filling up water deficiency in the body. Additionally, juices from various fruits also help to keep us hydrated.