Did you know that 60% of the human body is made up of life-giving water. In addition, the heart and brain are made up of 73%, and the lungs contain 83% water. Suffice it to say, water is essential for life. Therefore, it is vital to keep your body well hydrated, especially when you are out of your typical routine while traveling.

With spring break coming up, many families will be traveling. Long road trips often lead to decreased fluid consumption and an increase in foods with high sugar and sodium…both a recipe for dehydration.

And flying can be even worse. Airplanes are controlled environments typically kept at only 10-20% humidity. This is far lower than the 35-65% humidity of normal everyday environments. Lower humidity in the air can lead to quicker dehydration.

It can be easy to let hydration go a bit when you are focused on your latest adventure but don’t make this common mistake. A focus on hydration, even when traveling, is imperative. 

Here’s how staying hydrated while traveling helps you and your family make the most our of your trip…

• Water Increases Your Energy Levels. Traveling is fun, there is no doubt about it, but it’s also tiring. Moving from time zone to time zone can throw your body’s internal clock all out of whack. This can tend to make you tired, zapping your energy. In addition, if you are participating in an activity, you need extra hydration as proper hydration can improve your endurance and reduce fatigue according to the Journal of Athletic Training. Suffice it to say, that drinking adequate amounts of water will help improve your energy levels.

• It Prevents Illnesses and Flushes Toxins. Proper hydration is a key component of properly functioning kidneys. The kidneys, of course, serve the primary purpose of removing waste from your body naturally. In addition, a body that is properly hydrated will tend to restore nutrients quicker, preventing illnesses. Therefore, when you don’t get enough water, your body’s natural waste removal system gets a little backed up and can even stop working altogether if dehydration sets in.

• Water Keeps Skin Moist And Healthy. Everyone wants to look good while traveling. After all, those pictures are going to be around forever! However, there is nothing attractive about dry, flaky skin, which can occur when you don’t drink enough water. Thankfully, you can keep your skin moist and healthy and even reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and lines simply by drinking enough water according to The American Academy of Dermatology.

• It Improves Your Overall Mood. Vacation or traveling is no time be in a bad mood. After all, you want to take in all the adventures your vacation has to offer. When you fail to make hydration important enough, though, your body can begin to get dehydrated. Unfortunately, this can cause headaches along with moodiness according to the Journal of Nutrition.

• Water Improves Cognitive Function. Have you ever found yourself reaching for a sugary treat in the late afternoon when you need a mental boost? Instead, you might try a tall glass of water. That’s right, according to a study found in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, simply drinking a glass of water can enhance your brain’s cognitive ability.

Tips For Staying Hydrated

• Pack a reusable water bottle. If you don’t have a reusable water bottle, you should definitely buy one to take on your trips. Many airports have water stations for refilling water bottles. You may be able to find these water stations wherever you’re traveling to as well, which will save you money on bottled water and cut back on plastic waste. 

• Consider bringing your own herbal tea bags while flying. They’re TSA-compliant and all you’ll need is a source of boiling water and a good travel mug to keep your tea piping hot. Flight attendants will generally be more than happy to provide hot water and you can even find hot water dispensers at many public drinking fountains in major airports around the country.

• Drink coconut water. You should be able to find coconut water in the airport and at stores once you land. It’s easy to become dehydrated on airplanes so you should be able to find this drink in an airport terminal. Coconut water is full of natural electrolytes and potassium. This powerful combination will boost your hydration and keep you feeling your best. 

• Pack fruits and vegetables to snack on. They are naturally high in water.

• Avoid caffeine and sugar. They can actually cause you to lose more water than you gain. While sugary drinks may quench your thirst initially, the sugars and artificial sugars siphon out your body’s water storage by making your organs work harder to process them. Be especially careful of sugary drinks that are also caffeinated, they actually cause you to lose more water than you gain.

Is Getting Dehydrated A Big Deal, Though?

Besides just feeling thirsty, dehydration can cause fatigue, dizziness, and confusion. In extreme cases, repeated bouts of dehydration can lead to urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and other kidney problems. Sometimes, dehydration leads to electrolyte imbalances that, in worse-case scenarios, can cause seizures.

What to Look For? First Signs of Dehydration

During your travels, if you notice any of the following symptoms, you need to consider dehydration as a possible motive and hydrate your body as soon as possible:

• Lightheadedness or dizziness.
• Confusion.
• A headache.
• No tears available if crying.
• Extreme thirst.
• Fatigue or sleepiness.
• Dry mouth.
• Darker than normal urine output.
• None or little urine output.

When it comes to travel, don’t wait until feeling thirsty to drink water. By the time a person feels thirsty, they may already be dehydrated. Start hydrating well at least 24 hours in advance of a flight. Drink lots of water during the flight, and avoid overconsumption of caffeinated or alcoholic drinks that can make dehydration worse.

One way to ensure that you are fully hydrated before traveling is to stop by for a Hydration IV Therapy! We can add other ingredients to help boost immunity, prevent fatigue, etc. if you have additional concerns. If you’re feeling the effects of too much vacation fun when you return, a Rehydration or Detox IV Therapy should have you back to feeling great asap.

Give us a call to schedule an appointment or just walk in!

Stay Healthy!