Dehydration Nation

Dehydration Nation

This is a critical topic for us – hydration.

What may surprise you is that it’s not as simple as just drinking more water.

At the market, we work in the extreme heat and humidity. There is a lot of sweating, and the potential for dehydration is very real. This goes for many of you reading this from kids, athletes, farmers, technicians, and even outdoor enthusiasts. But you don’t have to be in the heat to be dehydrated.

Hydrations Tips

Drink 8 oz. of water with a pinch of Celtic or Baja Sea Salt first thing in the morning. We have to have salt and trace minerals.
Use fulvic and humic complexes – Beam Minerals ½ ounce of each a day. This provides electrolytes and minerals, among other health-boosting aspects.
Get taurine – this amino acid is a calming neurotransmitter and crucial in producing energy through calcium and potassium.
Supplement with magnesium – I cover this topic regularly. We have to have the miracle mineral.
Get potassium, which is vital for energy production and preventing cramping. (Cream of tartar is potassium) We need 3,500 mg to 4700 mg a day. 98% of Americans aren’t getting enough per day. [1]

I just listed five tips for hydration, and who noticed that I didn’t mention drinking a ton of water?

I can’t stress this enough: it’s not only about drinking water but also about electrolytes.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “The National Academy of Medicine suggests an adequate intake of daily fluids of about 13 cups and 9 cups for healthy men and women, with 1 cup equaling 8 ounces. Higher amounts may be needed for those who are physically active or exposed to very warm climates.”

The Mayo Clinic recommends 15.5 cups daily for men and 11.5 cups for women.

As you can see, there is no consensus on anything with health, but the intake has such a wide range of variables. A safe assumption is that few of us are drinking enough.

What to not do is just as important.

Don’t drink sugar-rich drinks, including soft drinks. [2]
Don’t drink excessive water without electrolytes – water intoxication [3]. Read that again. You are eliminating electrolytes when you drink too much water.
Sports drinks are a farce. They are not what they are touted to be. Do they have electrolytes? Yes, but they also contain sugar or artificial sweeteners and food colors, which are poison. [4,5,6,7]

I cringe at the common belief that sports drinks are healthy. I wish football players and cheer squads in the summer and other athletes were consuming good salt and not the sports drinks.

Diabetes and dehydration

Dehydration and diabetes can go hand-in-hand. Thirst and dry mouth — both signs of mild dehydration — are often the first indicators of diabetes. But what’s the connection between diabetes and dehydration?

People with diabetes can become dehydrated easily. High blood sugar makes them urinate more to get rid of extra glucose, which can lead to water loss. A serious diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis can also make them eliminate more to remove harmful substances called ketones.

Taking insulin can lead to water loss as it moves glucose into cells from the blood. Some diabetic people may not feel thirsty when they should due to autonomic neuropathy. Elevated blood sugar harms the kidneys over time; they may pee more than usual, leading to dehydration.

If they’re worried about dehydration, they should talk to their doctor about appropriate water intake and electrolytes. Or better yet, seek out a functional medicine provider who can get to the root cause of the diagnosis.

This connection has everything to do with how the body responds to high blood sugar.

Medications can cause dehydration… There are a lot! Work with your doctor to know if your pharmaceuticals can cause dehydration and what to do with them. Over-the-counter remedies don’t come without side effects, significant side effects.

To recap

Full spectrum Celtic or Baja Sea salt is inexpensive and an easy inclusion. A small pinch first thing in the morning works great.

Get electrolytes – Cymbiotika, Beam Minerals, and Dr. Berg all have products I recommend. They have science back direction for use.

Taurine is essential for muscle function and is found in meat, eggs, and seaweed. [8,9] I highly recommend eating meat and eggs. Supplements are also readily available.

Coupled with electrolytes and taurine, drink clean water while avoiding all the sugar. Using lemon, cucumbers, mints, and other taste enhancers of water is a struggle. Lemon is good for the liver, so that’s always a good idea.

These tips can help prevent dehydration, cramps, and chronic disasters that could be lurking.

Please discuss prioritizing this topic with your healthcare provider based on any diagnosis and medications.

The following video from Barabara O’Neil is a masterclass on hydration.