Dehydration: Myths, Facts & Symptoms

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Intense thirst, a dry mouth, tiredness, lightheadedness and dark yellow or amber-coloured urine can all be signs of dehydration.

It happens when the body loses more fluid than it takes in, leaving you without enough water to function properly.

During a recent trip to Barbados, our Denielle made sure to keep water close by, but when dehydration hit, water alone didn’t seem to be enough.

It wasn’t until she had a sports drink that I started to feel better.

Nutritionist and Corporate Wellness Manager at CG Atlantic, Donovan Ingraham, says water isn’t the only way to stay hydrated.

Donovan Ingraham – Corporate Wellness Manager, CG Atlantic

“There’s so many forms of hydration, hypotonic, hypertonic, water versus coconut water, versus electrolytes. You know, you just have to make the right choices based on what you’re experiencing throughout the day, your lifestyle and your fitness level.”

Ingraham says while electrolyte drinks can help, some contain high levels of sugar.

He suggests turning to natural sources of hydration.

Donovan Ingraham – Corporate Wellness Manager, CG Atlantic

“The best food are always fruits and vegetables. More flesher fruits.”

Donovan Ingraham – Corporate Wellness Manager, CG Atlantic

“Watermelon, pineapples, grapes, those things are very fleshy fruits.”

Ingraham also used our conversation to address a common belief about coffee, that it can leave you dehydrated.

Donovan Ingraham – Corporate Wellness Manager, CG Atlantic

“Does coffee dehydrate you? I mean, it will based on other factors as well. You know, it’s very loaded. Coffee is the main factor that causes dehydration. Are you hydrating before the coffee, after the coffee? Coffee also provides some form of hydration, but it also dehydrates. It is a liquid.”

And what about the common advice to drink eight glasses of water a day?

Ingraham says that recommendation isn’t necessarily one-size-fits-all.

Donovan Ingraham – Corporate Wellness Manager, CG Atlantic

“Does eight glasses of water also help you to build up that mineral to fight dehydration? No, actually there’s a theory people say to drink eight glasses of water in primary school and high school. That just was a common thing, but the new theory is that the larger the individual, the more water we need to consume.”