Healthy kids stay hydrated!

Did you know that your body is like the ocean? That’s how it is! The ocean covers about 70% of the earth’s surface, and about 70% of your body weight is made up of water. For your body to be at its best, you need to have plenty of water and stay hydrated (high-dray-ted). When you don’t have enough water you become dehydrated (dee-high-dray-ted) and can get very sick. Hydration (High-dray-shun) is very important for you to stay healthy, let’s find out why.

Water does much more than quench your thirst, it keeps you alive! Water is so essential to our bodies that we couldn’t live more than a couple of days without it. Your body uses water to help with digestion (die-jest-shun), to keep your joints moving smoothly, to keep you cool, to keep waste from building up in your body, and even to keep your skin, nails, and hair in good condition. good condition. condition.

Dehydration is what happens when your body doesn’t have enough water. If you are dehydrated, you may feel thirsty, your skin may be dry, you may feel dizzy or tired, you may have a headache, and you may not be able to perform at your best mentally or physically. The most serious complications of dehydration can occur when your body can no longer cool itself, including heat cramps, heat stroke, or heat exhaustion.

When you are playing with your friends, especially on a hot day, you will probably break a sweat. Sweating is your body’s way of releasing heat, so it doesn’t get trapped under your skin. When you sweat your body also loses water, it is very important to replenish that water as soon as possible. Try to drink eight glasses of water per day, but keep in mind that this is not the only way your body stays hydrated! Your body also takes in water from the food you eat. Foods that have a lot of water include fruits and vegetables, milk, soup, pasta dishes, and meats like fish or chicken. When you eat these foods regularly, they will help keep you healthy and hydrated.

Should you wait until you’re thirsty to have a drink? Nope! If you wait until you are very thirsty, you are already dehydrated and may have lost about 1% of the water in your body! Water is the best option to drink when you feel thirsty. If you choose a soda, it actually makes your body more dehydrated, soda contains caffeine which acts as a diuretic (die-you-ret-ic) causing your body to lose even more water!

Sometimes it is necessary to drink more water than usual. If you’re exercising or playing a sport, if it’s very hot outside, if you’re at high altitudes (like in the mountains), and if you have a fever or are sick, it’s important to go the extra mile to keep your body hydrated.

Here are some tips to stay hydrated throughout the day. First thing in the morning, drink some water. Carry water with you throughout the day and choose water over soda or fruit drinks. Stop by the water fountain at school regularly between classes. When you exercise, drink water before, during and after your session. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Drink a glass of water with every meal and even keep some water by your bedside at night!

You need water to live. You also need water to keep your body healthy and working properly! Healthy kids keep their bodies hydrated, so make sure you’re drinking enough water every day!