Drink Up! Most of Us Could Benefit From More Water

Drink Up! Most of Us Could Benefit From More Water

Inadequate(inˈadikwət) hydration can cause fatigue(fəˈtēg), poor appetite(ˈapiˌtīt), heat intolerance(inˈtälərəns), dizziness(ˈdizēnəs), constipation(ˌkänstəˈpāSHən), kidney(ˈkidnē) stones and a dangerous drop in blood pressure(ˈpreSHər).

By Jane E. Brody

I wonder how we all survived — and even thrived(THrīv) — in our younger years without the plethora(ˈpleTHərə) of water bottles that nearly everyone seems to carry around these days.

In reading about the risks and consequences(-ˌkwens,ˈkänsikwəns) of dehydration(dēˈhīdrāt), especially for the elderly(ˈeldərlē) and anyone who exercises vigorously(ˈvig(ə)rəslē) in hot weather, it’s nothing short of a miracle that more of us hadn’t succumbed(səˈkəm) years ago to the damaging(ˈdamijiNG) physical, cognitive(ˈkägnətiv) and health effects(əˈfekt) of inadequate(inˈadikwət) hydration.

Even with the current ubiquity(yo͞oˈbikwədē) of portable(ˈpôrtəbəl) water containers, far too many people still fail to consume enough liquid(ˈlikwid) to compensate(ˈkämpənˌsāt) for losses(läs,lôs) suffered(ˈsəfər) especially, though not exclusively(ikˈsklo͞osəvlē), during the dehydrating(dēˈhīdrāt) months of summer.

For those of you who know or suspect that you don’t drink enough to compensate for daily water losses, the good news is you don’t have to rely(riˈlī) entirely(enˈtīrlē) on your liquid intake to remain well-hydrated.

Studies in societies with limited supplies of drinking water suggest you can help to counter dehydration and, at the same time, enhance the healthfulness of your diet(ˈdī-it) by consuming nutritious(n(y)o͞oˈtriSHəs) foods that are laden(ˈlādn) with a hidden water source. Plant foods like fruits, vegetables(ˈvejtəbəl,ˈvəjətə-) and seeds are a source of so-called gel(jel) water — pure, safe, hydrating water that is slowly absorbed(-ˈsôrbd,əbˈzôrbd) into the body when the foods are consumed.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/well/hydration-thirst-water.html