Achar To Beetroot: 6 Everyday Foods That Can Actually Make You Feel Dehydrated

With the temperature rising every day, our body needs enough fluids to function normally. Hence, you will find health experts who emphasize drinking enough water and other healthy beverages to maintain fluid balance. But did you know that drinking water is not enough to stay hydrated? You heard us! You also need to keep tabs on your daily diet to stay healthy, especially during the summers. According to several studies, we consume various foods and drinks every day that wash away excess fluids from your body, without you realizing it. This further makes you feel dehydrated throughout the day and leads to associated health risks.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the more common foods and drinks that can increase your risk of dehydration even after you’ve had enough water. But first, let’s understand the theory behind dehydration.
Read also: Hydration beyond water: These foods and drinks are great for hydrating your body

What causes dehydration? How to cure it?

According to health experts, dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t get all the water it needs. To the uninitiated, a human body is 55 to 60 percent water, says the United States Geological Survey. It is natural to lose water daily through the excretory systems such as sweat, urine, tears and saliva, but if you do not replace the lost fluids, this leads to dehydration and the production of excess toxins in the body. The best way to compensate for the water content in the body is through diet, which contains healthy foods and drinks.

Why do certain foods and drinks lead to dehydration?

To put it simply, some foods and drinks have diuretic effects on your body which can lead to loss of sodium and water, creating an electrolyte imbalance. It is considered one of the most common reasons why you feel thirsty even after drinking liters of water. This is why it becomes even more important to identify those foods and drinks, so you can add them to your diet wisely. Read on.
Read also: What is chronic dehydration? Cause, preventative measures and more

Here are 6 everyday foods and drinks that can lead to dehydration:

1. Coffee:

Coffee is perhaps one of the most popular drinks that has been the subject of debate among fitness enthusiasts. While caffeine is known to make up for lost energy, it can also lead to dehydration. Right. Caffeine, when taken in excessive amounts, can be diuretic, creating an imbalance in the water content of the body.

2. Green Tea:

Over the years, green tea has taken a permanent position in your diet, thanks to the high amount of antioxidants and flavonoids it contains. But it can also make you feel dehydrated. Just like coffee, green tea has caffeine content, which works as a natural diuretic agent. This can cause your body to lose water, making you feel tired and lethargic.

3. Beetroot:

Sounds amazing, right? Beetroot is rich in potassium, which is known to help release fluids from the body. So, if you fill up on beetroot, especially during the summer, it could end up having several negative effects on your body.

4. High Protein Foods:

We have often seen fitness enthusiasts rely on a high protein diet to lose weight and gain muscle strength. While we don’t deny the benefits, it can also lead to chronic dehydration. Basically, proteins generate nitrogen formation in the body which uses excess water to be metabolized. This often leads to a fluid imbalance in the body.

5. Packaged sodas and juices:

Excess sugar in sodas and packaged juices is known to have hypernatremic effects on the body, says the World Health Organization. This means that sugar draws water from cells and tissues, decreasing the level of fluid in the body. Furthermore, it also gives a false impression of hydration, making us drink less water.

6. Achar (pickle):

Achar ad pickle can elevate our dining experience by leaps and bounds. But it can also be quite dehydrating, due to excess salt. Salt increases the sodium content in the body which needs more water to be released. In the process, your body loses water, leading to dehydration and loss of energy.
Now that you know about these dehydrating foods and drinks, have them in moderation so you can enjoy the goodness without any fear.

Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides general information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical advice. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for further information. NDTV assumes no responsibility for this information.