Myth 1: Feeling thirsty means you’re dehydrated.
Fact: If you’re feeling extremely thirsty, chances are you may be dehydrated. Then again, it is only natural for anyone to feel like they need to reach out for a glass of water – and that certainly doesn’t imply dehydration. Thirst is the body’s way of telling you to drink some water, very much like an alarm going off whenever there’s a deficit of water. Drinking when you’re thirsty is just an innate response for human survival. Your body is intelligent enough to sense that, even if it’s just a 1 percent reduction of water.
Myth 2: Everyone needs to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
Fact: I should think we’ve all gone past this myth already, but for those who still fuss over it, pay attention. Taking this whole “eight glasses of water a day” thing way too seriously is like believing in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus. No doubt, drinking lots of water is great for your overall health and skin. But if you’re going to end up forcing down 8 glasses of water just to meet this unfounded ‘requirement’, even when your body is screaming for you to stop, you’re doing it all wrong.
Fact: I should think we’ve all gone past this myth already, but for those who still fuss over it, pay attention. Taking this whole “eight glasses of water a day” thing way too seriously is like believing in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus. No doubt, drinking lots of water is great for your overall health and skin. But if you’re going to end up forcing down 8 glasses of water just to meet this unfounded ‘requirement’, even when your body is screaming for you to stop, you’re doing it all wrong.
There is absolutely no need to force water consumption. Keep in mind that anything, whether food or drink, can contain liquids. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), about 20 percent of the average person’s water intake is derived from food. At the end of the day, how much water you need is very personal. Just leave it to your body to let you know when you need to drink and how much.
Myth 3: Coffee can dehydrate you.
Fact: This myth is not entirely true, but there is still some truth that you should know about. Coffee in itself isn’t dehydrating – it is the caffeine in it that is. Drinking too much coffee will also mean a huge consumption of caffeine, and this is what results in feeling dehydrated. As a beverage, however, minus the effects of caffeine, coffee does in fact contain water. The liquid content in coffee (or tea) should leave you feeling more hydrated, making up for the dehydrating effects that caffeine has. The point at which caffeine puts you at risk of dehydration, according to Mayo Clinic, is when you consume over 500 milligrams in a day, which is equivalent to somewhere around five cups of coffee.
Fact: This myth is not entirely true, but there is still some truth that you should know about. Coffee in itself isn’t dehydrating – it is the caffeine in it that is. Drinking too much coffee will also mean a huge consumption of caffeine, and this is what results in feeling dehydrated. As a beverage, however, minus the effects of caffeine, coffee does in fact contain water. The liquid content in coffee (or tea) should leave you feeling more hydrated, making up for the dehydrating effects that caffeine has. The point at which caffeine puts you at risk of dehydration, according to Mayo Clinic, is when you consume over 500 milligrams in a day, which is equivalent to somewhere around five cups of coffee.
Myth 4: The more water, the better.
Fact: This is one myth we have to break. Water is Mother Nature’s most wonderful gift to us, but like some may say, too much of a good thing can be bad. In the case of water, there is such a thing as too much of it. While there haven’t been many cases reported of people over-hydrating, consuming more than your body can handle can be extremely dangerous. The medical term for this is ‘hyponatremia’, which is when the sodium level in the body is so diluted that the cells begin to swell. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion and fatigue – all of which can escalate to seizures and even coma.
Fact: This is one myth we have to break. Water is Mother Nature’s most wonderful gift to us, but like some may say, too much of a good thing can be bad. In the case of water, there is such a thing as too much of it. While there haven’t been many cases reported of people over-hydrating, consuming more than your body can handle can be extremely dangerous. The medical term for this is ‘hyponatremia’, which is when the sodium level in the body is so diluted that the cells begin to swell. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion and fatigue – all of which can escalate to seizures and even coma.
Myth 5: Sports drinks are essential for those who exercise
Fact: If your workout lasted for less than an hour, plain water will do just fine. Electrolytes and glycogen levels are not affected unless you’ve been engaging in intense exercise for over an hour. Endurance athletes will benefit from the right balance of sugar and sodium, but while sports and energy drinks do provide that, they also contain a whole list of other artificial additives that may prove to be more of a bane than benefit. Instead, replenish electrolytes with water and have a proper meal to replace the sodium lost.
Fact: If your workout lasted for less than an hour, plain water will do just fine. Electrolytes and glycogen levels are not affected unless you’ve been engaging in intense exercise for over an hour. Endurance athletes will benefit from the right balance of sugar and sodium, but while sports and energy drinks do provide that, they also contain a whole list of other artificial additives that may prove to be more of a bane than benefit. Instead, replenish electrolytes with water and have a proper meal to replace the sodium lost.
Myth 6: Effects of dehydration is short-lived and not dangerous at all
Fact: While most of us will only experience mild symptoms of dehydration like headaches and fatigue, these can lead to other more severe problems that may require immediate medical attention. Mayo Clinic explains that serious complications of dehydration include swelling of the brain, seizures, kidney failure and even death. If you are experiencing the early stages of dehydration with symptoms such as extreme thirst, dizziness and significantly less urination, it is advisable to act quickly and drink up.
Fact: While most of us will only experience mild symptoms of dehydration like headaches and fatigue, these can lead to other more severe problems that may require immediate medical attention. Mayo Clinic explains that serious complications of dehydration include swelling of the brain, seizures, kidney failure and even death. If you are experiencing the early stages of dehydration with symptoms such as extreme thirst, dizziness and significantly less urination, it is advisable to act quickly and drink up.
Written by Vannesa
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