7 culprits that cause summer dehydration

It’s a sunny summer day, and we sweat a lot! But even if the body loses just 1.5% of its water, mood, energy levels, and cognitive function will be weakened

Your body is about 60% water. A study from the University of Connecticut in the United States shows that losing even 1.5% of your water intake can weaken your mood, energy levels and cognitive function. 1.5% is the critical point for mild dehydration. Sunny, hot weather, exercising, or not drinking enough water can all cause you to become dehydrated, but there are some factors that may cause dehydration that you may not be aware of.

1. Low Carb

Carbohydrates exist in the human body in the form of fluid. So you flush out carbs, which causes your body to lose several pounds of water. Nutritionist Jamie Maas says this may seem good for your figure, but it's bad for your hydration. Additionally, because carbohydrates like oatmeal, pasta, and brown rice absorb water during the cooking process, eating these foods can increase your hydration levels. If you cut back on your intake, you may also be cutting back on your water intake without even realizing it.

2. Pressure

When you are stressed, your adrenal glands release stress hormones. Experts point out that if you are constantly stressed, your adrenal glands will eventually become exhausted, leading to adrenal insufficiency. The problem is, the adrenal glands also make aldosterone, a hormone that helps regulate the body's fluid and electrolyte levels. So when adrenal fatigue is excessive, the body produces less aldosterone, which can cause dehydration and lower electrolyte levels. While increasing fluid intake can help in the short term, regulating stressors is the only correct long-term solution.

3. Aging

As you age, your body's ability to retain water, as well as your sense of thirst, decreases, meaning you become dehydrated more easily and have a harder time telling when your fluid levels are too low. If you have trouble remembering to drink water throughout the day, try making a game of keeping a bottle of water next to you at all times throughout the day, while not forgetting to count the total amount of water you drink.

4. Dietary Supplements

Even though it's "natural," it doesn't mean your bladder won't be "overloaded." Research shows that parsley, celery seeds, dandelions, and watercress can all increase urine volume, which may lead to dehydration. If you're thinking about taking a dietary supplement, it's best to talk to a nutritionist, primary care physician, or naturopath about any potential negative effects.

5. High Altitude

When you travel to high altitudes, the body adapts to the new environment by speeding up breathing and increasing urine output. Although they are necessary for acclimatizing to the altitude and regulating oxygen levels, constant peeing and panting can make you dehydrated. Frequent panting causes you to exhale more water than usual.

6. Drinking

Watch out for hangovers! Even a well-behaved happy hour can deplete your fluid levels. Why? Because drinking makes you go to the bathroom more often. Alcohol inhibits antidiuretic hormone. This hormone normally sends some of the fluid you're consuming back into the body instead of sending it to the bladder. At the same time, due to the diuretic effect of alcohol, your cells shrink, causing more water to enter the bladder.

Experts warn that all of this can reduce the body's hydration levels. What’s more, because alcohol impairs your ability to send early signs of dehydration, such as thirst and fatigue, it makes it easy for you to miss them.

7. Not eating enough fruits and vegetables

Making produce one-half of each meal may help you consume up to two extra cups of water per day. In other words, if you don't stick to the "five servings a day" diet principle and simply drink more water, it will be difficult to make up for the lack of water in your body, which will lead to dehydration. Dehydration critical point.