Everyone is telling you to drink more water because isn’t it supposed to be good for you?  But if you aren’t thirsty then why should you care about your hydration? Or, what if you are always reaching for that glass of water and can’t seem to quench your thirst?

Your body is made up mostly of water – it is the universal solvent to all of the machinery of life. This means that every cell in your body relies on water to function. 

When your body is lacking ample water, you are considered dehydrated. When dehydrated, the basic functions in your cells will be hampered and this can spell disaster for your overall health.

Dehydration may be an underlying issue to the following:

• Unexplained chronic tiredness
• Daily headaches
• Muscle pain, poor strength and easy muscle fatigue
• Early signs of aging in skin and hair
• Weakness and a lack of motivation
• Frequent hunger and weight gain

These signs can be so common we hardly think of water as the simple solution.

I see numerous patients with chronic dehydration due to their fast-paced lives. Causes can be excessive soda, caffeine or alcohol consumption, drinking small quantities of water, certain medications, or if you find yourself recently recovering from an illness. If you are active and sweat a lot, you may also find yourself dehydrated.

Does the above sound familiar?

If you don’t ever feel thirsty, yet persist with plenty of coffee, soda or juice in your life, then it’s likely your body has learned to ignore the thirst signal.  On the contrary, if you drink plenty of water yet always feel thirsty then one of two things could be happening: it’s a sign your body has been chronically dehydrated and now it has difficulty absorbing water into your tissues OR you are lacking in electrolytes to keep the water in your cells.

So…..how do you improve your hydration status for good?

All improvements in health begin with creating new habits. Start by drinking room temperature water throughout the day. Have a glass of water every few hours – these should add up to 1.5 – 2L per day. Avoid caffeinated drinks, or if you must have them then add 1 extra glass of water for every cup of coffee, tea or soda you drink. If you are sweating often, be sure to increase the amount of water you drink to 2.5-3 L per day. In all cases, talk to you ND about adding in electrolytes to your water consumption.

What to do when you need more help:

When adding more water consumption to your daily routine doesn’t improve your symptoms of dehydration, an IV treatment is a great solution. To receive IV hydration, book an appointment or drop into our clinic. You’ll begin with a consultation with one of our IV doctors and they will get you set up with your Custom IV drip.  Not only will you receive beneficial hydration, you’ll also get the added boost of electrolytes and vitamins to help you feel better than when you walked in our doors.

-Dr. Erica Kubanek, ND

To book an initial visit with Dr. Erica Kubanek, ND visit our website at theiv.ca or give us a call at 604-974-8999