By Sheila Yonemoto, PT
Summer is upon us, and the hot weather makes us more vulnerable to getting dehydrated. Here are some tips to staying hydrated.
There is debate on how much water you should drink. Generally, we tell people to take your weight, divide it in half, and drink that amount in fluid ounces. So, an example would be if you weigh 100 pounds, divide that in half and you get 50. So, drink 50 fluid ounces over the course of a day.
If you drink caffeinated drinks like coffee or tea, then you would have to drink more water as caffeine is more likely to make you pee more.
I heard from the president of the Hydration Foundation, who happens to be an archeologist, that she was interested in how desert dwellers hydrated since water was limited in their environment, and found that they ate their water through food. The water in food, like watermelon and cucumbers, is structured water, which hydrates cells better than drinking your water. So, eating your water counts in the total water you take in daily.
For years, I have been drinking hydrogen water, which has been shown to boost antioxidant levels, reduce free radicals that can cause cellular damage, reduce inflammation, support brain health, enhance skin health, boost immune function, and support weight loss. For more information contact echowater.com.
Sometimes being dehydrated can contribute to constipation, dizziness, and cramps. Checking the color of your urine is another way of seeing if you are taking in enough water. The urine should be light yellow. Dark yellow usually means you are not taking in enough water. Taking B vitamins can also make your urine bright yellow.
Another interesting fact is that your brain shrinks by 60% at night to clean out the toxins. The body’s sewer system is the lymph, and in the brain, these specialized cells are known as “glymphatics,” since the glial cells are what cleans up the brain. So, in the morning, it is advised to drink 1-2 cups of water to rehydrate the brain. In Chinese medicine, it is felt that the brain needs to be hydrated for healthy function.
Sometimes, people restrict their water intake to prevent having to go to the bathroom. Often, that creates a more concentrated urine that irritates the bladder and makes you more likely to frequent the bathroom more. My advice is to drink less water toward the evening to decrease nighttime bathroom visits but keep your daily total the same.
So, drink or eat your water to ensure optimal cell functioning throughout the body.
Sheila Yonemoto, P.T., has been a physical therapist for more than 40 years, specializing in integrative manual therapy, utilizing a holistic approach. She can be reached at Yonemoto Physical Therapy, 55 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 100, Alhambra, CA 91801. She also offers a qigong “Chinese energy” exercise class. Your first class is free. Call (626) 576-0591 for more information or visit www.yonemoto.com.