We have all been familiar with the importance of water from a very young age. Now and then, we are advised to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day.
Right from our textbooks to our parents, water has become a topic of utmost importance every time when it comes to our health.
However, water is luckily not the only source of hydration. There are plenty of resources you can resort to in addition to water which has effective hydrating properties. Some of the very common and effective hydration sources are- ORS drinks, electrolyte drinks, juices, soups, milk, etc.
Here is your guide to know how you can stay hydrated without drinking water. Here, without drinking water does not mean you abstain from your water intake.
The focus is to look for all other sources ALONGSIDE WATER to keep yourself hydrated.
What Are Dehydration And Its Symptoms?
Let us start from the basics. Dehydration occurs when your body does not have enough fluid or water it requires. As a result, the body does not work as efficiently as it used to since the fluid balance disrupts.
If we look closely at our daily activities, we come to know that there are many instances where you directly or indirectly lose water from your body, and thus fluid loss is bound to happen to some extent.
How you compensate or restore that electrolyte and fluid loss is what matters. If you are constantly dehydrated for a longer period of time, you can experience the following symptoms-
- Dark and reduced urination
- Dehydration associated headaches
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Excessive thirst
- Dry skin and dry mouth
- Lightheadedness or dizziness.
How Much Fluid Do You Need?
The need for fluid and water in your body depends on various factors. Your particular needs are influenced by your age, gender, weight, location, exercise level, and overall health.
The accepted notion by experts to consume water is-
- For men- About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids/ day
- For women– About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids/day
According to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, fluids account for around 80% of our water intake, while foods account for the remaining 20%.
So, clearly, your optimum hydration needs do not only involve water. You need other food and beverages sources as well.
Another important point to note here is that hydration has a right and wrong process. You can’t gulp down a liter of water all in one go. That, instead of curbing your hydration, would cause health complications.
Overhydration, off-time consumption of beverages and foods, not listening to your body clock to follow your hydration pattern, etc. are all wrong signs.some of the very common hydration mistakes you might be making.
How To Stay Hydrated Without Drinking Water?
If at all you do not like the taste of plain water or if you are dehydrated, here are some quick read-on as to how you can keep yourself hydrated with sources other than water.
- ORS Drinks
You might have often heard about ORS powders or drinks, especially when you are suffering from diarrhea.
Oral Rehydration solution or ORS drinks are a conjugation or mixture of electrolytes with sugar and water. They are one of the best solutions for dehydration.
With easy access to make it at home too, ORS drinks provide optimum hydration, reduce fatigue, and are also known to treat many medical ailments associated with dehydration itself.
- Green leafy vegetables
Eat your greens as a priority. Green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and a fair amount of water as well. Lettuce alone contains around 94% water!
Most of us are not really fond of consuming leafy vegetables on a regular basis but trust me, they are an all-in-one package of all the nutrients and hydration you require.
- Milk
This seems a very contradicting choice in the list, but yes, milk provides hydration.
When compared to water or a sports drink, low-fat milk was determined to be the beverage of choice for rehydration following mild exercise-induced dehydration in a 2007 research of 11 healthy people.
Dehydration does not only mean loss of water. It also leads to a substantial loss of electrolytes from the body as well.
So, choosing a fitting source of electrolyte replenishment is also necessary. That’s where milk might turn out to be a savior for you.
However, it has also been seen that milk proves beneficial in context to normal dehydration but in more serious and severe cases, you need more than that.
- Detox drinks
Detox drinks are one of the most effective options to remove toxins from your body and fulfill your hydration needs. You can make your own detox drinks at home and sip them anytime you desire.
One of the best advantages of detox drinks is that they work wonders when it comes to taking care of your skin and hair. They help in the removal of dirt and toxins from the body and thus bring a glow to the skin.
Well, the hydration needed for the skin also depends on how your skin actually is. So, it is important to understand if your skin needs hydration or moisturization and then go along with your hydration plans.
- Electrolyte foods
As we have already discussed, our body, when dehydrated, also requires an optimum restoration of electrolytes.
Thus, it is important to consume electrolyte foods that provide all the basic electrolytes required by the body namely calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, etc.
Similarly, you can also resort to healthy electrolyte drinks to fulfill your hydration and electrolyte needs together.
Bottom Line
There are many ways by which you can stay hydrated without drinking water. But make sure you know how to balance your water intake too. Water is the most prominent when it comes to hydration. All the sources in the right proportion can be the best effective hydration regime for your day.
