Plus 3 simple tips to stay hydrated!
Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that control a wide range of functions in the body. Unfortunately, they keep a delicate balance that can be tricky to maintain!
Oftentimes, simple daily habits (like drinking enough water) have a significant impact on how well our body is able to maintain balance. If you struggle with hormonal imbalances, dehydration could be a part of the puzzle.
Read on to find out how dehydration is linked to hormone imbalances and our tips to help you drink more water each day.
What is Dehydration?
Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than you ingest. While not drinking enough water throughout the day or sweating excessively and not replenishing your fluids are surefire ways to cause a state of dehydration, there are other possible causes.
Salty foods are an obvious culprit. When too much sodium is in your system, the body has to pull water out of your cells to maintain homeostasis. Over time, this damages the kidneys and can lead to chronic dehydration.
Drinking certain beverages (like sodas, coffee, and alcohol) can also be mildly dehydrating. Even though you’re taking in fluids, the way your body metabolizes these drinks causes more water to leave the body as urine. Not to mention, the sugar in these drinks directly throws your hormones off balance.
Medications can also dehydrate you, especially diuretics, blood pressure medications, laxatives, some pain killers, and chemotherapy drugs.
Getting dehydrated once in a while is normal and can be easily fixed by replenishing your fluids with a tall glass (or two) of water. But what happens when you are chronically dehydrated?
- You may get frequent headaches.
- You may feel dizzy or lightheaded.
- You struggle to stay focused and think clearly.
- Your skin becomes dry and irritated.
- Your digestion is sluggish, and you may notice constipation or indigestion.
- You feel tired all the time.
- You may develop more serious health conditions, often related to the kidneys or cardiovascular system.
At Moringa Natural Health, we have treatment plans for menopause and hormone imbalance. We personalize each plan according to each person’s unique biological makeup. Want to learn more about our treatment plans? Schedule your free appointment with Dr. Fernandez today!
Dehydration and Hormone Imbalances
Beyond the health issues above, dehydration can also affect your hormone levels. Here’s how dehydration affects two key groups of hormones:
- Sex Hormones
Both estrogen and progesterone influence your body’s hydration level. As these two hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, you may need more water to maintain a healthy balance. During PMS and right after your period are crucial times to hydrate, especially if you tend to have heavy periods that deplete your fluid levels. - Stress Hormones
High stress causes the adrenal glands to pump out stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline consistently. Over time, this weakens the adrenal glands to the point where they struggle to release another important hormone: aldosterone.
Aldosterone regulates the levels of fluid and electrolytes in your body. When you are under too much stress, your adrenal glands fail to produce the right amount of aldosterone to keep your body hydrated properly.
It works the other way too; when you are chronically dehydrated, your body is unable to properly regulate aldosterone, adrenaline, and cortisol. You’ll therefore feel more stressed or anxious when your body is dehydrated. The solution? Stay hydrated and prioritize stress management on a daily basis.
3 Easy Tips to Stay Hydrated & Maintain Healthy Hormone Balance
- Swap dehydrating drinks for healthy alternatives.
Sugary sodas, caffeine-laden coffee and tea, and alcohol all have a dehydrating effect. You’ll need to drink extra water to make up for the fluid loss you experience after each of these beverages you drink. Instead, swap them with healthier alternatives that hydrate you.
-
-
- Swap coffee with matcha tea latte.
- Swap after-work cocktails with hydrating mocktails.
- Swap soda with fruit-infused sparkling water.
-
- Get an intake-tracking water bottle.
If you are a goal-oriented person, an intake-tracking water bottle might be a motivating way to stay hydrated. These water bottles are big enough to fit an average day’s worth of water and are labeled with hour-by-hour drinking goals. Be sure to adjust your water intake based on your body composition and activity level. - Eat more foods with high water content.
Snacks like crackers and nuts are good in moderation, but they tend to be salty and dehydrating. Balance them with foods that are naturally hydrating, like apples, watermelon, tomatoes, and cucumber.
At Moringa Natural Health, we have treatment plans for menopause and hormone imbalance. We personalize each plan according to each person’s unique biological makeup. Want to learn more about our treatment plans? Schedule your free appointment with Dr. Fernandez today!
Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life
As you can see, staying hydrated is essential if you want to overcome hormone-related health issues. But it’s just one way to support your body’s complex endocrine system.
If you struggle with hormone imbalances, Moringa Natural Health Center is here to help. Our unique bio-identical hormone therapy program is designed to get to the root of your hormone imbalances and equip you with natural solutions to restore your health.
Request an appointment to get started today!
Much love,
Dr. Lena Fernandez
