My first day at Disney World was quite the eventful one. How could it not be when your cousin passes out while in line for a ride in the Animal Kingdom? Hydration was a major issue for everyone on this trip with me. We were not used to the constant humidity and heat of Florida. When it’s hot here in Pennsylvania, we spend only a few hours outside before going back inside to cool down. Spending the entire day walking in a packed theme park in that heat was new for most of us.
Staying hydrated is very important for staying healthy. Water, as everyone knows, is an essential key to maintaining all normal body functions. The recommended daily intake of water is 6 to 8 cups for teenagers, but that can differ based on body mass and the amount of physical activity partaken in for each person. I know very few people who actually hit the 8 cup mark. I know I sure don’t.
Staying hydrated has always been an issue with me. I’ve never been able to keep my body properly hydrated. I’ve been trying to change that and keep my body healthier throughout this stressful year. Earlier this year, I had to take a trip to the hospital because my schedule got more demanding and my body was too dehydrated to keep me healthy. This was like a wake-up call for me. I needed to improve my health through my water intake. Because I’m always moving around and staying on my feet for nearly the entire day, I needed more water to keep my body functioning properly. Since then, I’ve forced myself to carry a water bottle with me to every after school activity and even to my classes occasionally. I get through nearly twice the amount I had been taking in before.
At first, my body was overwhelmed with the extra water I had been drinking. My body was used to only a few cups of water a day and suddenly I was drinking way more. Over time, my body got used to it and my health drastically improved. Has anyone else had issues with being hydrated enough? Did you try to fix it? If so, how did you accomplish that?
I have had issues with staying hydrated before. Playing multiple sports is very demanding on the body. I have had multiple instances during summer preseason where I have passed out or get massive headaches because I have been so dehydrated. The problem is that as a player we get so overheated are body just shuts down and my muscles actually freeze up. As I have gotten older I have, much like you, tried to control this issue, and my body steadily got conditioned to my new lifestyle choices.
ReplyDeleteI work at a scout camp over the summer, and have done for about 4 years now. Needless to say, I've seen my fair share of dehydrated campers. I've seen people, some adults, pass out in the summer heat because they didn't have enough to drink. The solution to this is quite simple. Just drink water. Take that advice with a grain of salt, though. For years, doctors have been telling people to drink as much water as possible, but new research has actually shown that this isn't healthy. Basically, if you drink too much water and don't have enough electrolytes (aka salts) to balance it out, it can also be dangerous for your health. So when I say take that advice with a grain of salt, I mean it literally.
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