Millions of dollars are spent on campaigns to promote the habit of drinking enough water every year. Nonetheless, up to third quarters of American people still consume less water than the standard amount on a daily basis. Lack of fluid consumption is responsible for a problem known as Dehydration.

You might not feel it right away, but in the long term, dehydration has dreadful effects on various parts of your Body. It is high time you needed to find out what is it and more importantly, how to use natural home remedies for dehydration!

What is Dehydration?

Dehydration is the situation in which the fluid you have taken cannot compensate the amount that the body has lost. Maintaining and balancing the level of fluid is a primary requirement for a good health. It is because all the cells in the body require enough amounts of water and oxygen in order to function normally ^[1][2][3].

Overall, when your body experiences dehydration, it is usually short of water or electrolytes. In many cases, it might lack both of them.

Electrolytes appear throughout our body, and they play a vital role in the functioning of every cell and organ. They are necessary to maintain a proper pH level, regulate heartbeat rhythms, and carry electrical signals, for instance.

There are many different kinds of electrolytes in our body, including magnesium, calcium, potassium, or chloride. Besides, ions are one of the most important electrolytes, when it comes to hydration.

In particular, some body parts require much more electrolytes. Therefore, when your body is short of fluids, these body parts will be severely damaged due to a lack of electrolytes, for example, muscular and nervous system.

On the other hand, water accounts for approximately 60 percent of the human body. It is also responsible for 85 percent of human brains and 75 percent of muscles.

Typically, if we consume enough fluids every day, the balance between water and electrolyte amounts will be naturally set up. Water and electrolytes come from daily diets, which consist of veggies and fruits.

Once you have understood the significance of water and electrolytes in your body, do you consider dehydration as a dangerous problem now? Before finding out how to cope with it, let’s examine further the roots of the problem in you!

What causes Dehydration?

Dehydration appears as a result of your excessive fluid loss. And unfortunately, there are numerous contributors to fluid loss. It might result from your excessive sweating at the gym. Or it is a consequence of your ignorance to take in water.

Overall, dehydration can result from:

• Excessive exercise
• Hot and dry weather
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Excessive sweating
• Increased frequency of urination
• Sickness
• Poor diets

The severity of dehydration depends on the percentage of fluid loss in your body. It is mild when your body loses just about 2 percent. Five percent is considered as moderate, but you should be worried when it goes over 10 percent.

Severe dehydration requires immediate treatment, and you need to speak to your doctor for consultation instantly.

Symptoms of Dehydration

When it comes to dehydration, most people only think about feeling thirsty. However, dehydration can appear along with multiple signs.

Here are just a few common symptoms when you suffer from dehydration:

• Extreme thirst
• Sunken eyes
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Little urine
• Dry skin
• Headaches with lightheadedness or dizziness
• Constipation
• Muscle cramps

Also, according to some current studies, there may be a link between dehydration and cognitive problems, which in turn affects your memory and perceptive discrimination badly.

Who Has A Higher Risk of Dehydration?

Dehydration can occur to anyone; especially infants and young children or older people. People who are suffering from chronic illnesses and high altitudes or athletes are also the ones who are more vulnerable to the risk of dehydration.

• Infants

Dehydration is more common in infants and children because their fluid exchange rate and metabolic rate is higher than those of adults. As a result, it has significant impacts on their fluid levels, which drives them to consume more plain water.

• Elderly people

Older people usually suffer from dehydration because they tend to drink little water. In many cases, old people claim that they do not feel thirsty any more. Also, some people are already familiar with signs of dehydration to the point that they consider it reasonable.

• Chronically sick people

Illness is one of the most common causes of dehydration, especially when it comes along with vomiting and diarrhea. Those who vomit frequently lose both water and electrolytes in their biles.

• Endurance athletes

Undeniably, they develop dehydration as a result of their strenuous workout every day. The critical point is to maintain a high intake of water to compensate the loss.

• People living in humid and hot weather
• Those who recover from viruses or surgeries
• Those who have endocrine disorders or hormonal imbalances
• Those with excessive sweating
• People who maintain a poor diet without a variety of essential nutrients
• Patients who use some medications, such as cancer or heart problems
• Chemotherapy patients who suffer from the deficiency of calcium in the treatment

Possible Side Effects Of Dehydration

In addition to horrible symptoms of dehydration, it is likely that you suffer from a series of problems due to dehydration. Dehydration is a possible catalyst for many unusual unwanted effects, such as:

• Terrible breath smell
• Regular chills
• Muscle cramps
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Dry skin

Without proper treatment, dehydration might require medical emergency later. Therefore, it is essential to get yourself examined and fix the problem once you notice the slightest sign of dehydration.

Luckily, you can treat dehydration without medications as the problem comes from the shortage of fluid intake. In fact, most home remedies for dehydration are natural and therefore, safe for your health in the long term.

You can use one of these recommended home remedies for dehydration which have already helped millions of people avoid serious issues.

Home Remedies for Dehydration

Here are the top 20 simple home remedies for dehydration which you can easily apply right from home to support you in treating the symptoms of dehydration efficiently…

1. Water Intake

Because water is an essential element in your body so to overcome the dehydration, the primary method is to increase your daily water intake. Remember to drink water even when there is no feel for thirst ^[4].

Some research has shown that men need to intake an average amount water as of 3 liters while this number in women is 2.2 liters. Make sure that you take an enough amount of water for your body. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty but drink water several times a day to make your body always fresh and flexible.

2. Homemade Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)

One of easy home remedies for dehydration is homemade ORS. It can help you restoring and supplementing the minerals and fluid that your body has lost because of dehydration. The solution is very simple to apply ^[5].

Take a half of teaspoon of salt with 6 teaspoons of sugar and mix them together. Pour in the mixture 4 glasses of water. Stir until the sugar and the salt dissolve completely you will get the solution that you need.

Drink this kind of solution couples of time per day to avoid dehydrating and recover soon.

3. Yogurt

Yogurt can be very effective in helping overcome the dehydration relating to vomiting or worse diarrhea thanks to its variety of electrolytes. Moreover, it can help soothing and easing the digestion.

Just simply take a cup of yogurt from your fridge and enjoy it every time you apply this remedy. Another choice is to combine yogurt with plain boiled rice and a pinch of salt. This will increase the taste as well.

Besides treating dehydration, yogurt is also an effective home remedy for problems regarding the urinary system. You can find out more at: Home Remedies for Urinary Incontinence.

4. Salt

Salty food can help the patients controlling the symptoms of mild dehydration due to excessive sweating when taking some rigorous activities or high intensive exercise routine.

An extra amount of salt is really necessary at the time of dehydration as it can balance the level of electrolytes in the body. Some kinds of food like cracker biscuits, salted nuts can be sources of salt to take. Alternatively, you can dissolve a pinch of salt in drinking water and drink this to maintain the water level.

Salt is a very effective remedy for problems regarding excessive sweating. You can find out more at: Home Remedies for Anal Itching.

5. Watery Fruits and Vegetables

Kinds of vegetables and fruits which are rich of water are other favorable choices to increase the water level in the body.

Because vegetables and fruits consist of some components such as salt, minerals and sugar, they can act in the same way as isotonic drinks that athletes always use to prevent dehydration.

Fruits that are rich of water include: papaya, watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, grapefruit, strawberries, oranges, grapes, etc. and some vegetables should be mentioned such as zucchini, celery, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes and spinach.

Try to add more of them in your daily dishes to get rid of the dehydration.

6. Banana

Banana contains lots of potassium that can help your body restoring the level of this mineral in your body. Furthermore, this kind of fruit also supports cramped muscles to restore their normal functions ^[6].

It is recommended to eat 1-2 bananas every day. A banana is not only good for the situation of dehydration but also it is good for skin and health.

To understand more about the benefit of banana for health and skin, you can go to: Home Remedies for Oily Skin.

7. Coconut Water

Coconut water is a delicious kind of water that can treat dehydration naturally. It contains a lot of electrolytes – the necessary components that keeps your body always hydrating ^[7].

Chop a coconut and pour out the water inside to a cup. You can put the coconut water into your fridge for several minutes to make it cool then take it out and drink. When coconut water is absorbed, you can observe the quick vanish of dehydration.

Drink this kind of water every day can also be highly beneficial for both the health and the skin.

8. Buttermilk

Buttermilk is very rich of nutrients and minerals. It can keep the balance level of minerals in your body by supplementing the loss amount due to the excessive sweating – the main cause of dehydration ^[8].

Just simply take a glass of buttermilk at each time and repeat 2-3 times a day to help the body getting relief soon. Alternatively, mix 1 cup of the milk with a half teaspoon of dried ginger and drink it for more effects. Apply the method 2-3 times a day.

9. Barley Water

Barley water is another natural home remedy for dehydration. Barley has lots of nutrients that can provide minerals and compensate the lost amount in your body. Also it helps alleviating digestion and keeping the body cool.

Soak 1 cup of barley in water for several hours. Then put the soaked barley into a pan filled with water and boil. Keep boiling and let it simmer for about 45 minutes. After simmering, let it cool down and then strain. Add some lemon juice and honey to the barley water then stir well. Drink this kind of water several times through the day to get the best effects.

10. Lemon Water

Lemon juice is not only good for your health and skin but also it can be used to treat dehydration as it can hydrate the body and compensate the lost amount of water in your body.

Cut a lemon into a half and squeeze to get the juice. Add 1 teaspoon of honey, a half of pepper powder and a little salt to the juice then mix well. Finally, pour into the mixture a glass of water and stir to get lemon water. Drink this tasty drink as well.

As you apply this remedy several times a day, you will find your body always energized and refreshed.

11. Soups and Broths

Soups or broths can make up for the lack of fluid and minerals inside your body due to the dehydration. For more effects, you can add some kinds of water – rich vegetables such as zucchini, radishes and celery to your soups and broths. This improves not only the hydration but also the taste of your dishes.

Prepare for yourself a bowl of chicken soup or broth and eat it. The soup or broth can support and boost the hydrating process and they are very good for your digestion.

12. Rice Gruel

Rice gruel is a thick rice porridge that can help recovering the body during the period of dehydration.

In fact, rice gruel is often used to feed the patients who are suffering from diarrhea – one of the main causes that lead to dehydration.

When eating rice gruel you can add some little amount of salt to increase the ability of providing electrolytes for your body.

You should also eat rice gruel when you have some problem with your digestion.

13. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another natural ingredient that can be used as a rehydration solution ^[9].

Take 1 liter of boiling water and add to it a pinch of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Stir the mixture well. After that, let the mixture cool down and drink this several times a day.

This energizing and re-hydrating solution will help the body recovering effectively as quickly as you apply it.

14. Epsom Bath

Epsom bath is a little-known remedy but can be very effective in helping alleviating the level of dehydration. Epsom salt contains a lot of magnesium which can counter the numerous negative symptoms of dehydration when it is absorbed through the body skin.

Prepare an Epsom bath by dissolving Epsom salt in the water. After that, just need to soak your body into the bath and relax for at least 10 minutes.

Take Epsom bath as a daily home remedy will bring you many benefits and reduce the dehydration soon.

15. Drink Glucose Water

Glucose water has lots of electrolytes so that it can be used to help reducing the symptoms of dehydration.

Make glucose water for yourself by mixing 1 teaspoon of sugar with the same amount of lime juice and a pinch of salt and adding some drinking water. Stir well to dissolve all the components. Drink this kind of water several times a day to maintain the level of fluid and minerals in your body.

16. Pickle Juice

Even though pickle is not one of the best home remedies for dehydration in infants and children, it is useful to address the problem in adults.

Excessive sweating usually leads to a massive loss of sodium and potassium, which is responsible for dehydration. To make up for this loss, pickle is an ideal choice because of its high content of sodium. Besides, it also provides a certain quantity of potassium.

Thus, you can expect pickle to help you maintain the balance of electrolytes. To get the best results, you had better consume pickle juice once on a daily basis, perhaps after your workout.

17. Cranberry Juice

Thanks to its high content of water, cranberry is another name among top home remedies for dehydration that you might want to try. Also, cranberry supplies various types of essential salts and sugars that your body usually lacks due to dehydration.

You can use its juice twice per day. It will help you become energetic instantly, so it might be an excellent option before you do exercise.

18. Orange Juice

For ages, orange has been well-known for its richness of vitamins and nutrients that contribute to human well-being. But do you know that it can supply electrolytes, like magnesium or potassium?

Undeniably, it is one of the most significant home remedies for dehydration that you can use to replace plain water in the daily diet. Orange is very efficient to cope with electrolyte imbalance.

Moreover, it even has tremendous effects on your health thanks to its abundance of vitamin C. You can count on it after the workout.

However, you should use unsweetened juice to make the best use of orange.

19. Apple Juice

Apple contains such a considerable amount of magnesium and other essential minerals, such as potassium. Therefore, it deserves a place on the list of the best home remedies for dehydration. This fruit will instantly provide you with electrolytes and minerals your body is in dire need of.

Furthermore, it is also suitable for all ages, which means that your children can use apple to address dehydration.

You can eat two apples per day or use its fresh juice to get the best treatment for dehydration. However, babies who are under six months old should not use fruit juices.

20. Watermelon

Last but not least, watermelon is an excellent choice among top home remedies for dehydration. The reason is that it contains so much water in its content. It is not to mention the fact that you can use all kinds of melon to handle dehydration quickly.

Thus, there is no more straightforward way to eat or drink fresh juice from such excellent fruits as watermelon in hot weather. You will regain your energy instantly.

How to Prevent Dehydration

As dehydration can bring about terrible effects on our health, it is crucial to learn how to prevent dehydration. Do not let it happen and then, seek the cure! You can quickly reduce the risk of dehydration just by following some simple plans.

• Get fluids frequently

Apparently, the first strategy to prevent dehydration is to let your body absorb enough fluids every day. Do not wait until your body feels thirsty! Supplying your body with fluids consistently will not only prevent dehydration but also make you more energetic and younger.

Plain water is still the best choice. Even though fruit juice has positive impacts on your health, do not overuse it. Juice often contains a certain amount of sugar. When your body gets too much sugar, some problems related to the blood sugar levels might arise, and urination will increase as well.

All of these effects will finally lead to dehydration, which shows the opposite effect.

• Breathable clothing

When you are a big fan of workout, or you live in humid weather, it is a great idea to wear breathable clothing. Lack of fluid intake is not the only reason for dehydration. Breathable clothing allows your body to regulate the heat better.

If possible, you should stay along with cool temperature to prevent sweat from reducing your fluid.

Besides, you should not try doing exercise too intensely, especially in the hottest time of a day. When the heat is high, along with high humidity, it might threaten your health.

• Use hydrating foods

In addition to fluids, foods also play an essential role in the prevention of dehydration. The recommendation is to use hydrating foods, which refer to fresh vegetables and fruits.

Besides, you had better not use too salty or dry foods in your daily diet because they are the primary component of your moisture loss.

• Get more fluids during workout

The likelihood of electrolyte imbalance is the highest when you do intense activities or exercise. Therefore, the best way to offset it is to supply your body with more water. Remember to bring extra water along with you during the whole workout.

Besides, for those who usually experience vigorous endurance training, it is a good idea to use something containing natural electrolytes, such as potassium chloride.

Sports drinks are not beneficial, on the other hand, because they usually contain synthetic flavorings as well as added sugars.

Once you finish the workout, it is essential to pay attention to your diet which should consist of different types of nutrients. If dizziness or cramps happen, get more and more fluid immediately.

• Prevent dehydration when you are sick

Among many different causes of dehydration, sickness is not something you can predict. When illness happens with fever and vomiting, it is even more critical to get more water daily.

Otherwise, you can suffer from a series of more severe problems, including bladder infections or heart failure. In this circumstance, electrolyte drinks may be efficient to help you stop diarrhea or vomiting.

• End alcohol consumption and smoking immediately

Alcohol and other caffeine beverages only worsen the situation of dehydration. Thus, if you are addicted to them, it is high time you dropped them for the sake of your well-being. The same rule is for smoking.

Conclusion

These above home remedies for dehydration are very useful in helping you overcome the dehydration as well as maintaining and balancing the level of fluid and minerals inside the body. Don’t be afraid to try any since all of them are safe for your health.

Do not forget to share our article to make more people aware of this dangerous problem and its related risks!