Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesnt have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions.
If you dont replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.
Anyone can become dehydrated, but those at greatest risk include young children, older adults and people who work or exercise outside.
When its hot and humid, your risk of dehydration and heat illness increase even more because when the air is humid, sweat cant evaporate and cool you as quickly as it normally does. This leads to an increased body temperature and the need for more fluids.
Your body cannot work properly without water. In fact, 50-70% of the weight of your body comes from water. You have more water in your body than any other substance.
What does all that water do?
Water helps you regulate body temperature. Your body uses sweat as a way to prevent overheating. The evaporation helps to cool your internal body temperature to a safe level.
Water also delivers nutrients and oxygen to cells within your body and removes waste products when you pee.
Water provides cushion and support to your joints, as well as protection to your spinal cord and other delicate tissues.
All water from beverages and foods contributes to the water your body needs.
Drinking water and other beverages is one way to make sure you stay hydrated, but you can also get water from some of the foods you eat.
Many fruits and vegetables have a high water content, like watermelon and spinach. A starting guide is that children should drink at least six to eight cups of water a day and adults should drink at least eight cups of water a day, and consume other nutritious, hydrating foods and beverages.
BELOW are a few tips for helping your family stay hydrated and make healthy beverage choices:
Choose water whenever possible.
