How to Rehydrate Fast

Feeling thirsty?

We all know staying hydrated is essential. Water does so much for our bodies. Water helps to maintain our body temperature, cushion joints, control heart rate, protect the spinal cord, get rid of waste, and so much more. Not getting the proper amount of water can result in dehydration, and some stubborn ailments that aren’t responding to that pain reliever or nootropic may actually be due to lack of proper hydration.

What is dehydration?

Dehydration is when your body doesn’t have enough of the fluid it needs to function at its best; this can be because of the type of foods and drinks you’re consuming (think alcohol and other diuretics), through sweat-heavy exercises, or illness (especially when vomiting or diarrhea are involved).

Severe dehydration can lead to a whole host of problems such as kidney failure, seizures, and swelling of the body.

What are the signs and symptoms of dehydration?

• Headaches: Even mild dehydration can cause an uncomfortable headache, which can get even worse when paired with other symptoms like exhaustion and irritability. Headaches caused by dehydration occur as the layer of liquid protection around your brain diminishes, which can make your head hurt with increased pressure. The best way to get rid of this uncomfortable symptom? Drink rehydrating beverages as soon as possible – from plain water to sports drinks. Just avoid diuretics like tea or coffee.
• Dizziness: Dehydration and excessive thirst can make you feel dizzy. This dizziness that you may experience occurs due to the lack of proper fluid levels in your body, as well as improper electrolyte balance. You might feel dizzy due to dehydration after a bout of physical exertion like an intense workout.
• Fatigue: Your body needs fluids to stay energized, and dehydration is liable to make you feel exhausted. There's an easy way to make that fatigue worse, too – drinking beverages containing caffeine. Using a stimulant like caffeine to wake yourself up when you're tired might sound like the right idea, but caffeinated drinks are actually diuretics – they make you produce more urine, leading to even more dehydration as your body empties the little circulating fluid it may have left.
• Moodiness: Headaches, fatigue, and other signs of dehydration can lead to irritability and frustration. The best way to get your mood back on track is to rehydrate as fast as possible.
• Constipation, nausea, and other GI discomfort: Your body needs water to keep your bowel movements regular. Without hydration, you're likely to experience irregularities with your BMs, i.e. constipation. You might also feel sick to your stomach until you get enough fluids as your stomach acid becomes a little too potent.
• Bad breath and dry mouth: Lack of hydration can affect the amount of saliva produced in your mouth, leading to a buildup of bacteria and bad breath. Even moderate amounts of bacteria can make your breath smell bad, and hydration is essential for proper oral hygiene.
• Muscle cramps: Hydration plays an essential role in keeping you from cramping up during a workout. Some athletes rely on sports drinks that are fortified with electrolytes like potassium to prevent cramping, but plain old water can be just as effective in reducing cramps in many cases.

What are some easy ways to rehydrate?

Don’t wait until these signs show up. Here are some tips and tricks to help you rehydrate before you even get close to dehydration.

1. Drink water.

Consuming H2O is vital as water makes up 60% of our bodies. It’s a critical component that helps regulate internal body temperature, acts as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord, circulates blood, filters out waste, and so, so much more.

To keep yourself hydrated, aim to drink an average of around eight 8 oz. cups of water a day. Too boring? Try adding in a few glasses of sparkling water or even sports drinks.

2. Eat hydrating foods.

Fresh fruits and vegetables generally have fairly high water content. Here are the most hydrating of the bunch:

• Watermelon
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Oranges
• Melons
• Grapes
• Spinach

These H2O-filled foods are easy ways to add a little more water to your day. Whatever fruit or veggie you pick, make sure to have at least 1 ¼ cups, or two servings a day, to supplement those 8 oz. glasses.

Try blending them together to make a super hydrating (and delicious) smoothie!

3. Got milk?

If so, drink it! Milk has a large concentration of electrolytes, as well as protein. A 2016 study showed that both full-fat and skim milk are great ways to rehydrate yourself, especially after a workout. Plus, it’s a great base to that smoothie we mentioned earlier!

4. Eat soup.

Broth-based soups are also a great source of hydration. Soups like chicken noodle and minestrone include not just water, but sodium as well, which is helpful when rehydrating. The body loses sodium through sweat, especially during exercise. Soup can help, but be cautious of consuming too much canned soup — it has a lot more sodium than what your body needs.

5. Get an IV drip.

Looking to hydrate instantly? IV wellness drips are synonymous with hydration, often alongside vitamins and minerals that can help your body recover and replenish while reducing dehydration.

Because IV therapy allows nutrients and fluids to bypass the digestive tract, it allows for near-instant absorption into the bloodstream, letting you feel the benefits of IV-delivered hydration almost immediately.

All of ivee’s wellness IV therapies are formulated with a rehydrating saline or LR solution. This solution serves as a vessel for the nutrients, medications, and other ingredients contained in your treatment of choice, but it's also a powerful hydrating agent with its own set of benefits.

Just a few minutes into a session, you'll feel revitalized and re-energized thanks to that much-needed hydration.

When you order an at-home IV therapy session from us, we'll send an experienced Registered Nurse directly to your location in just a couple hours. Your Nurse will handle the entire process from start to finish, making sure you're comfortable at every step. Meanwhile, all you have to do is sit back and relax as the rehydrating power of IV therapy restores your body's fluid levels.