Spring Water Fights Dehydration

In this modern age, clean, potable water is quite accessible. Whether you want it straight from the tap, as bottled or natural spring water, or in mineral or alkaline form, you can easily have it delivered or bought from a convenience store.

So it’s surprising to know that there are people that suffer from dehydration.

A news story last year said that 75% of Americans suffer from this condition. In the UK, four patients die of it every day. Here in Australia, three deaths every week are caused by dehydration.

What happens when the body loses water

About 60 percent of the human body is made up of water.  Even a slight change in this water level can get the body spiraling into dehydration, which happens when the body loses more water than it takes in.

This occurs particularly when one does not get enough bottled or natural spring water.  The symptoms are easy to spot: Sluggishness, fatigue, and lightheadedness. Dark and yellowish urine. Tight skin. Dry mouth and throat.

In the workplace, and especially in areas where temperatures can shoot up, like in Australia’s mining pits, losing fluid can affect work performance. According to a mining consultant, some of the effects manifest themselves in workers’ poor concentration, memory lapses, irritability, and sleep impairment.

Getting your daily dose of natural spring water can help

Sometimes work can get so demanding that we forget to get up from our office chairs to get a glass of refreshing spring water from the water cooler down the hall.  Or when we’re dealing with back-to-back deadlines that we cannot even go to the restroom. But is work too important that we put more importance to it than the basic things we need to do, like drinking at least eight glasses of water a day?

To help you stay hydrated all day, whether you’re outdoors or at work, or doing a DVD marathon, here are five things you can do:

• Always bring a water container with you. If your work is too demanding, bring a jug and fill it with water so you don’t have to get up constantly to run to the water cooler.
• Cut down on drinking tea, coffee, or soda. These are diuretics, and they make you lose water fast.
• Get sufficient protection when you’re outdoors. Wear sunscreen and bring a hat or an umbrella. Protecting yourself from the sun’s heat minimises sunburn, which contributes to dehydration.
• Eat enough fruit and vegetables. Did you know that certain fruits and vegetables have high water content? Good examples are watermelons, star fruit, iceberg lettuce, celery, and tomatoes.
• Be mindful. Getting up to get something at the printer? Get some water on your way back. Doing two things at the same time helps you get the work done and still stay hydrated.

Image credit: Sxc.hu