· By Jamal Ramsay
You’ve heard it before. Good hydration is important. Our bodies are 60% water, and although drinking more would mean taking frequent toilet breaks, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. So it’s always good to look out for some of the dehydration signs.
A good indicator of hydration is the colour of your urine. The recommendation is to usually have your urine a pale, straw colour (not the fun cocktail kind but the kind you find on farms).
When you don’t drink enough, the body tends to hold onto water from the cells, causing bloating and discomfort. Staying hydrated is a good way to reduce this.
We heard somewhere that “thirst is an inadequate indicator of hydration”, and they’re right! The thirst sensation doesn’t kick in until we’re 1-2% dehydrated. By this time, it’s probably already had a negative effect on our brain function. We should be drinking enough so that we don’t feel thirsty.
Mild dehydration can have a significant impact on mental performance, be a reason for low energy levels in females and negatively impact mood.
Exercising whilst dehydrated can lead to less endurance and reaching fatigue a lot quicker. You also take longer to recover, which might lead to low motivation for the next workout.
Our bodies need water to produce enzymes and the digestive bacteria in our stomach and gut to break down food and keep it moving to where it needs to go (out!). Dehydration can lead to constipation due to your body pulling water from your stools (gross).
The key take away, water is very important, so try and keep yourself hydrated to keep yourself feeling in top shape!
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