aka clearpath
Geocaching on a warm summer day can cause most people to exert enough energy that the body produces a protective measure we commonly call sweating. When muscles contract (physical exertion), they generate heat, which must be dissipated from the core to the body surface. This process utilizes water already trapped inside the body and, once activated, the water reaches the body surface in the liquid form we all know as perspiration.
Consider that water is the most abundant component of the body... In this article, I would like to look at two areas of hydration and health. First, why is hydration so important to the human body? And second, what happens during poor hydration - dehydration?
Why is hydration so important to our bodies? Consider that water is the most abundant component of the body; it makes sense that maintaining a proper level of this component is essential to healthy living. According to L. Lee Coyne, Ph.D., a well known nutritional consultant, "nearly all the bio-chemical reactions that occur in body cells depend on water...[water is] vital to maintaining life but also affects physical and mental performance." He goes on to say, "[the body] has many holes which allow for leakage. These holes include skin pores which allow for perspiration (skin leakage), the kidney/bladder system which expels wastes carried by water, and the respiratory system which must be moist or breathing would be very dry and painful." It is essential that we replace the water our body uses to regulate body temperature as well as the many bodily processes that contribute to a healthy life.
A good rule of thumb to follow when hydrating the body is to consume 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, just to maintain a 'normal' level of hydration. ...that proper water intake can actually increase our bodies performance. Remember that water or a high quality sports drink (during high exertion) is the best approach to proper hydration. Some drinks such as coffee, beer and sodas can actually increase your body's need for hydration because they can have a diuretic effect. Also, our bodies do consume a certain amount of water from food such as fruits and vegetables.
Another reason hydration is so important to our bodies is that proper water intake can actually increase our bodies performance. This is something that athletes have known for years and the average geocacher can also take advantage of this higher performance. You'll be more likely to exercise (geocache) longer and your body will be more alert mentally. Also, drinking enough water is a good way to fight off fatigue.
Now, lets look at possible effects of dehydration so we can better understand the benefits of drinking plenty of water. According to the Craig Hospital of Englewood, Colorado many things happen when your body becomes dehydrated.
- Your brain won't work properly - you'll feel groggy and slow.
- You'll lose muscle tone.
- Your kidneys won't be able to function; toxins and waste will back-up in your body, making you feel generally crummy.
- You'll have trouble regulating your body temperature; you may feel overheated, or you may feel chronically cold and unable to get warm.
- You'll get constipated.
- Fats stored in your body won't get used up or metabolized.
- You'll think you are hungry all the time, so you'll be likely to eat more.
- Your skin will get dry itchy and saggy.
Another good rule of thumb to follow is drink small amounts of water more often during periods of high exertion in hot and humid conditions. As I've mentioned in a previous "Today's Cacher" article, one way to insure consistent water intake is to set the timer on your watch to go off every 15 to 20 minutes. Each time, force yourself to take a drink. Also, remember that if your body is thirsty, that means the initial stage of dehydration has already begun. So, drink water before you get thirsty.
In conclusion, remember that our bodies are incredible machines. In order to get the most out of our machines, we must maintain them. A good analogy would be trying to drive your car with little or no water in the cooling system. You might make it down the road a ways but eventually, the car is going to stop running. So, geocachers, drink up and stay healthy.