Thursday, April 22, 2010

Dehydration Affects How You Look

Here’s an interesting theory – try to drink as much fluid as you can in order to prevent dehydration. Why is this a bizarre concept? Most people drink water once they are already thirsty, but drinking before you are thirsty is the key to healthy looking skin.

If you want to know the best anti-aging secret in the world, all you have to do is look at your kitchen sink. Since the body is composed of mostly water, it only makes sense that you should have to drink lots of fluids to replenish the skin every day.

You see, your skin will lose water nearly every minute of the day. Skin tends to sweat throughout the day (whether or not you notice it), which means that water is escaping your skin and evaporating. Thus, if you take the time to drink fluids throughout the day, you can bet that your skin will reflect this healthy decision.

Skin that is dehydrated often looks sallow, worn, dry, and wrinkled. In order to keep skin’s collagen intact, you must make sure that you consume enough water. Many people try time and again to find the latest anti-aging trick. The truth is that water is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your skin’s collagen.

How much water should you drink? One half of your body weight in ounces should be consumed every day. If you weight 200 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces of water (3.13 quarts, 2.98 litres or about 10-12 cups of water a day). If you weigh closer to 100 pounds you will need only about 50 ounces of water or about four 12-ounce glasses daily. The best way to consume this much water is to keep a glass by your side at all times. If you are active, this amount should be increased.

If you aren’t sure whether or not your skin is dehydrated, try this simple test: get into the habit of drinking at least eight glasses of water per day. After one week, see whether or not your skin’s condition improves. Most people will find that their skin takes on a rosy, youthful, healthy look.

While purchasing natural skin care products are essential for your skin, learning all you can about proper skin care health is also crucial. Eating well, drinking lots of water, including a dietary supplement in your diet, and exercising nearly every day are all great ways to look younger almost immediately

There are lots of things you can do to stop your skin from aging. Many of these things are quite complex, but most of these things are actually quite simple. Begin by drinking more water than you ever have before. If you are like most people living within North America, your skin is likely parched.




Prevent Yourself from Becoming Dehydrated

Dehydration or hypohydration refers to the loss of water within the body. It can occur at any time, within any sport and should be avoided as it can cause further complications within the body. It is caused by a prolonged physical activity, among other things, where water has not been consumed at an adequate level.

Although in the water, swimming is a strenuous sport that can induce dehydration - especially when one is swimming for long periods of time. It is important to keep hydrated to maintain endurance, health and balance through the body while partaking in the sport. Here are some ways that can help to prevent dehydration while swimming.

It is important to know the symptoms of dehydration - and check for these symptoms regularly should you be immersed in the water for extended periods of time. These symptoms are the increased urge to urinate, a dry mouth, or swollen tongue - and weakness, dizziness and fatigue. Although there is an increased urge to urinate, there may be little urination that actually occurs. When one is dehydrated, the urine is often stronger in color when one is suffering from dehydration.

In order to understand the importance of drinking electrolytes, you need to know how your body regulates fluids. The organ in your body responsible for monitoring the levels of water inside your body is your kidney. If you were unable to take in ample fluid for the day, the hypothalamus (a gland that is found in the brain) will ask the pituitary gland to tell the kidney to conserve water by secreting anti-diuretic hormones. Once the kidneys receive the message, they make urine more concentrated and they reabsorb more fluids. Furthermore, your brain also signals a feeling of thirst. Unfortunately for many, this signal is sometimes read as hunger pains.

Signs You May be Dehydrated

Dehydration can be defined as the condition in which the body experiences excessive loss of water. Usually experienced in the summer time, the most probable causes of dehydration include vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss and malnutrition. Apart from that, you can also get dehydrated if you do not drink enough fluids to replenish the water lost due to sweating and urination.

The Causes of Dehydration

There are many things that can cause dehydration, the most common are vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, malnutrition, and plain old failure to replenish liquids lost from sweating and urination (Not drinking enough water). Many illnesses and diseases can trigger acute dehydration due to the increased body temperature and sweating that usually occur.

Abnormal connections that are between parts of the intestinal tract (fistula) may also lead to fluid depletion. A decrease in oral liquid intake may be due to nausea or loss of appetite; this may be worsened by an inability to keep things down (vomiting).

Vomiting and or diarrhea are other important causes. The vomiting might be due to the flu or any disease process therefore precautions must be taken when a loved one, again especially a child, is ill and is vomiting and or has diarrhea.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Parents often worry about dehydration when their children get sick and have diarrhea and vomiting. Fortunately, it is usually possible to avoid serious complications of dehydration by recognizing the early signs and symptoms of dehydration and getting quick medical attention.

Recognizing dehydration symptoms starts with an understanding of dehydration. Victims of dehydration do not have enough fluid (water) in their bodies to get nutrition and oxygen to the tissues of their bodies.

Mild dehydration - even if there is a relatively low level of fluid loss (causing a 1-2% loss of body weight) mild dehydration can cause the body to work less efficiently . However, mild dehydration carries few risks and can usually be easily treated by replacing lost fluids.

Dehydration Affects You and Your Child:

How it affects you: Being well-hydrated is important to your physical and mental health. Dehydration makes a person tired, cranky, and stiff-jointed. Being dehydrated can bring on headaches, nausea, aches and cramps -- and other, more serious physical ailments.


What Causes Dehydration?

Air conditioning: the dried air pulls moisture from your lungs as you breathe; we can recognize this in a desert condition, but don’t think about the effect with cool air. The process of cooling the air causes a great deal of moisture to be lost from it … ever notice how much an air conditioner drips while it is working? The relative humidity drops 50-70% as the air is cooled. The same is true of cold winter air; it holds far less moisture than warm air, another reason people get more colds in the winter … it’s not just the cold weather. The air conditioning in airplanes combined with the low air pressure can cause you to lose enough fluids to have you end up with a cold or the flu a couple of days after your trip.

Antihistamines and decongestants: both work by dehydrating the cells and can have a profound effect on mental acuity. This is why airline pilots are not permitted to use them less than eight hours before flying. Don’t you wish that this requirement applied to surgeons and others in such decision-intensive jobs? This can also affect the performance of athletes, especially ones who depend upon fast reactions … like tennis or handball. Have you noticed how many more errors are made in the final innings of a baseball game or the last quarter of a football game?

Caffeine is a diuretic causing you to lose fluids via the kidneys, more than you have in that cup of coffee or soft drink. Recent studies indicate that people who drink more caffeine may have built up a tolerance and may not lose as much of what they drink as less frequent users. Another study indicates that these “heavy drinkers” may be chronically dehydrated and, therefore, can’t lose much more fluid.

Alcohol also causes you to lose more fluid than you drink, more than caffeine because it is an anti-antidiuretic .. same result, different process (it suppresses the anti-diuretic hormone). Check with us if you’re confused … or drink some of VITALYTE™. Even more serious than this systemic loss of fluids, alcohol also pulls water directly from the tissues, especially affecting the stomach, liver and brain and ultimately seriously damaging these organs. Gookinaid hadn’t been on the market long before we started getting testimonials about how effective it is in alleviating the effects of hangovers and in preventing them, depending upon when you drink the VITALYTE. Boston sportscasters announced on the radio during the 1978 Boston Marathon that “Gookinaid is the best thing in the world for hangovers!”… and they should know! (talk about an endorsement)

Stay Hydrated, Stay Healthy!

From colds to cancer treatments, dehydration plays an ugly role: making life miserable. Those “blahs” are generally a result of dehydrated cells caused by fluid loss through sneezing, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea. These debilitating side effects rid your body of the vital electrolytes necessary for cellular repair and day-to-day function. Enter Vitalyte™.

Its perfect isotonic sodium and potassium formula acts as an “oral IV”, quickly matching the body’s fluids being absorbed in the blood stream, giving your body the electrolytes and “right” sugars (made up almost entirely of glucose, great news for diabetics) it needs with none of the stuff it doesn’t. Take Vitalyte 5x a day, Doctor’s orders! *Please consult your physician before using Vitalyte

Vitalyte™ Mission Statement:
“To provide the most effective, scientifically-based functional replacement solutions possible through passionate dedication to enhancing the quality and balance of people’s lives.”

Vitalyte is really about serving the end user, bettering their lives, providing the best products for them to feel good before, during and after their activities. The people at Vitalyte are all personally dedicated to promising results and delivering on that promise.

Stay Healthy on Your Plane Flight!

Summer is approaching and millions of passengers will be enduring crowded planes and terminals…and perhaps even sitting in a seat next to someone with a cold or the flu (someone who is sneezing or coughing). So, what can travelers do to stay healthy and alert while traveling? Plenty, say the experts.

Here are some tips:

The Problem: Dry Cabin Air

The low humidity and low air pressure in airplane cabins tend to dry out the sensitive mucus membranes in the mouth, nose and throat where viruses and bacteria can take hold.

What To Do:

Keep drinking. Ideally, drink 8 ounces of water, fruit juice or VITALYTE for each hour of your trip.

Why VITALYTE? It hydrates you without diluting your blood as does plain water, so you don’t have to stand in line for the bathroom. Many airline pilots drink VITALYTE to keep alert during the flight and they appreciate the fact that they don’t have to leave the flight deck even on cross-country flights.

How do I get the VITALYTE past security? Well lucky for you, we’re TSA compliant! Just bring quart or half-liter packets of VITALYTE and an empty water bottle through security and refill the bottle at a drinking fountain (or buy a bottle of water once past security), mix up the VITALYTE and enjoy your trip, and the friendly skies!

For a great deal on your supply of Quart packets or the new Half-Liter packets of VITALYTE please visit the VITALYTE Store on our website and for more Air Travel tips; including Germs in Close Quarters, Blocked Ears and Blood Clots, please read the rest of my articles in the Hydration 101 section. Drink up and drink often…

Monday, April 12, 2010

Do I Need More Electrolytes?

How do I know if need more electrolytes?

You lose electrolyte through your sweat glands as well as your intestinal and urinary tract. That means that aside from physical exertion, your electrolytes can also run low due to your diet or drinking habits, the climate, stress, or illness. You can know that your electrolytes are low by monitoring your physical symptoms, getting your blood pressure checked, or getting a blood test.

Be sure to monitor and replace your electrolytes if:

• Have a stress related disorder

• Suffer from an illness that is heat related

• Sweat excessively

• Have trouble sweating

• Have trouble with your circulation: cold hands or feet

• Have low blood pressure

• Have high blood pressure

• Are on blood pressure medication

• Your diet is poor and lacking fluids

• Have a compromised immune system

• Are a regular exerciser

Where to obtain electrolytes:

There are many different food or drinks out there that contain electrolytes, however it is a hard task getting a proper balance of electrolytes through your everyday diet. Back in the days before sports drinks, people used to rely on bone broths or soups to replace their lost electrolytes. Now, people rely on electrolyte sources that either has too much or too little of a certain type of electrolyte. With all the health problems that can crop up due to an electrolyte imbalance, it is important that everyone understands the need o replace their lost electrolytes.

Taking in extra salt is not a way to cure an electrolyte imbalance. In fact elevated salt levels can end up creating an imbalance as well as high blood pressure and heart trouble. Have too little salt is also a problem. Low levels of sodium can lead to lowered blood pressure and a compromised immune system causing a susceptibility to bacteria like staph or E.Coli.

Sports drinks such as Vitalyte can replace or balance electrolytes.

Drinking lots of water will not help you balance out your electrolytes. In fact this will just dilute them and cause a even greater imbalance. Gatorade generally does not contain all the different electrolytes that your body needs. Also, in order to work properly, sports drinks need to be isotonic, meaning that they are the same concentration as blood, and most are not. The high amounts of sugar that Gatorade contains can render the natural electrical charge of the electrolyte neutral making absorption into the cells impossible. Vitalyte has improved this process and thus developed a electrolyte replenishing drink with the perfect balance of electrolytes your body needs!