Dehydration can sneak up on you and impair your thinking to the point you may not realize you need to take immediate action. Rescuers have at times found lost hikers and others that have succumbed to dehydration with water still in their canteens. People think they should ration their water for when they need it and this can have serious consequences.
Once you begin to experience dehydration your mental acuity is affected. You will not be thinking straight, and you can make decisions detrimental to your survival. Trying to save water for later is a bad decision, but the amazing thing is the decision is usually made when the mind is clear.
Some people do believe, they need to ration their water in some situations, save it for when they need it, is the thinking. However, when your mind is fuzzy you cannot make any rational decisions, and some people have ended up dying with water within reach.
The human body is made up of approximately 60 percent water. Every part of the body depends on water. You need it for healthy skin, hair, and nails as well as to help control heart rate, blood pressure and most importantly control the body’s temperature (WebMD, n.d.).
So What Counts As Water?
Fruits and vegetables can help hydrate you. Watermelon for example, is 90 percent water, so it can be tapped to help keep you going as well as cantaloupe, oranges, grapefruit, cucumbers, celery, and greens such as romaine lettuce.
There is no substitute for just plain water however, and medical experts are finding that more and more people are fluid deficient, in other words, some are not drinking enough water in the course of a normal day, and this can spell disaster if you find yourself sweating heavily, and do not have an adequate supply of water.
Certain foods can help you stay hydrated, but no one should assume (continue reading)