How to gain more body water?

[Csilla]

Dear all:
I have very low body water (around 28 or something). As a result, I have dry skin, dry eyes, dry nasols and permenatly cracked lips....and consitipation.
I had to use humidifer every night in my room but still the same dry

But the fact is that I am living a very healthy life style - I drink plenty water everyday(4-5 glass of water and 2 cups of green tea), eat plenty fruits (3 pieces of fruits a day) and a lot of vegis everyday as well. I do yoga a couple times a week.

so I don't know why is causing me low body water. How can I gain more body water?

thank you very much for any inputs

[Alix]

Try looking at the things you take in that have caffeine in them. Eliminate those first. (That includes green tea) Be careful too in the fruits that you choose. Some of them are constipating. Apples and bananas being top among those. Choose fruits that have a lot of water in them (oranges and other citrus is good). For you constipation, you may wish to look at drinking some coconut milk, it will help hydrate you a little and help move things a bit better for you.

4-5 glasses of water may not be enough for you. You may need to up your intake quite a bit if you are still having issues at this level. A good test to see if you are dehydrated is to hold your hand flat, pinch the skin on one knuckle and see if it retracts quickly or if it retains the shape of the pinch and slowly recedes back into your hand when you release. If it is the latter, you need more water.

Really, water is the best solution, and avoiding things that are diuretics. Use the net and do a quick search. Best of luck.

[InnerAthlete]

If you have a health care provider this might be a good time for a visit. If you do not have a health care provider this may be a good time to get choose one.

Water with something in it is hydrating. Water alone is typically flushing. PLease consider adding a half teaspoon of lemon juice to glass of water. 4-5 glass of that mix and another 2-3 glasses of "just" water sipped over the course of the day.

I agree with Alix that caffeine needs to be removed in your situation. No alcohol either please.

Additionally I would not consider 3 pieces of fruit as "plenty".

[Alix]

InnerAthlete, water is hydrating, but you are correct that the addition of citrus will enhance water absorption. Dieticians suggest one glass of orange juice and one glass of water for optimal rehydration after sports.

I forgot to mention the alcohol, good catch IA.

[Csilla]

Thank you very much, Alix and InnerAthlete. Your advice are very much appreciated.

I will try intake tea or coffee as little as possible. But I do need some in the morning for my work(at least a cup). I cann't completely cut it off. unless... you have other suggestions.

I will try to drink water with lemon juice and try to drink more. But I also heard recently that drink too much water is not good either. How much will be too much?

someone told me that drink salt water in the morning will help (put a pinch in a glass of water), is that true? would I consume too much sodium by doing that?

[Alix]

You are not nearly at your limit for water intake. As I shared above, check the skin on your knuckle to see if you need to drink more. The only way taking in too much water is hazardous is if you don't go to the bathroom. If your body isn't allowed to expel the excess liquid as urine, you can actually drown your cells. It is very rare. Someone who is chronically dehydrated likely will not have that worry.

Please do heed InnerAthlete's suggestion that you see a health care provider as soon as you can for professional advice. I would also recommend seeing a dietician or nutritionist for additional help.

[Pandara]

Hi Alix,

I didn't know that apples are considered to cause constipation, I have always thought of apples as a laxative due to the fact that apples contain pectin which will add bulk to stools and their cleansing action will encourage bowel movements. Are you sure about the constipation thing?

Anyway, Csilla, you know that various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract as well as inflammed intestines can cause dehydration as well. Have you considered seeing a doctor or homeopath?

[Csilla]

Sounds like it could be a more serious problem. I have scheduled to see my family doctor in 3 weeks. Will see what would find out.

thank you all very very much.

[Alix]

Pandara, yes I am sure about the apples. They are given in the BRAT diet to fix diarrhea. (Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast) And it is precisely the pectin that causes them to be a binding agent I believe. Thats what pectin does, it makes things gel. When you make jam or jelly you add pectin to the liquid to thicken it. Apples are an excellent source of FIBRE, but they are definitely a binding agent.

[Pandara]

Hi Alix,

Thanks for that, I guess that when you're a healthy person then it might have the opposite effect, because I find that when I had an apple it really adds to speeding things up in my old stomach. I love apples and eat at least two a day, I am a firm believer in an apple a day keeps the doctor away - and it has worked so far for me.