Are You Dehydrated?

How important is hydration? Well, when you consider that water is the most biologically important molecule in the body...then yeah, very.

Here are just a few important body functions that require water:

Regulating body temperature
Protecting vital organs
Digesting food
Absorbing nutrients
Lubricating joints for movement
Providing shock absorption
Promoting immunity

There's good news and bad news. Let's start with the bad news. Dehydration is not something to take lightly. Not only does it have cosmetic detriments, such as dry, flaky skin and weak nails, but it also leads to a lack of energy and other long-term health ailments.

When you are dehydrated, you start to shut down. Dehydration can lead to aches, fatigue, constipation, headaches, irritability, and skin issues. A lot of symptoms we think are related to other things have a lot more to do with dehydration than we think.

But here's the good news. It's an easy fix! Next time you're tired or hungry, instead of reaching for that nutrient-poor sugary snack that will more than likely result in a crash, try reaching for a drink. More often than not, when you think your body is telling you it's hungry, it could just be dehydrated. So grab a drink before you grab a Snickers bar.

So how much water should we drink? According to the Institute of Medicine (2004), women should consume 2.2 L/day from beverages and 2.7 L/day from all food and beverages. Men should consume 3.0 L/day from beverages and 3.7 L/day from all food and beverages.

Speaking of beverages, you know that not all beverages hydrate, right? In fact, you may be drinking chemical-laden products that actually contribute to dehydration. If you're not the biggest water fan, then try adding some Vitality Drops into your water, or buying a fruit-infused sparkling water, like Spindrift (I get them at Costco). I put a splash of Ningxia Red and Lime Vitality Essential Oil in my Spindrift for a festive "mocktail".