Dehydration is a condition when the body fails to retain fluids and electrolytes which in turn can affect the proper functioning of the body. Right from kids to the elderly, dehydration can affect everyone. While it is quite common during summers due to the hot weather outside, dehydration can occur at any time. It could be caused due to vomiting, fever, excessive sweating, and chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Dehydration causes symptoms such as dry mouth, excessive thirst, tiredness, dark colored urine, and less frequent urination. If left unattended, it can cause headache, bad breath, dry skin and in rare cases, lead to a medical emergency. So if you experience dehydration, consulting a doctor is the right thing to do. Additionally, you can even try out some simple and effective home remedies for dehydration to help restore mineral and fluid balance in the body.
Home Remedies For Dehydration
You can treat and manage dehydration by making simple dietary changes which include staying hydrated by increasing the intake of water and ensuring a nutrient-rich diet to keep up the mineral load. Here are certain foods that can help you to deal with dehydration at home.
1. Bananas
Bananas contain around 70 – 79% of water[1]. Moreover, dehydration can cause a deficiency in minerals such as potassium in the body. Hence, the intake of bananas, which are high in water and potassium content, can not only help to replenish potassium levels in the body but also prevent dehydration. The best way to reap its benefits is to have a banana before indulging in your exercise routine as it not only gives energy but also packs a mineral punch. You can even include one to two bananas as a part of your kid’s daily meal plan.
2. Barley Water
Barley water is a very popular drink which is mostly considered as a healthy drink for summers. This is because it not only helps to fight heat stroke but also aids in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body caused due to dehydration. Barley grains contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus in good amounts which helps to restore minerals and water when taken in the form of barley water.
Add a cup of barley to around 3-4 cups of water and bring it to boil. Allow the liquid to cool, strain and drink it throughout the day. You can add a pinch of salt or a teaspoon of lemon water for added taste.
Buy Best Vitamin and Mineral Supplements at 1mg at Affordable Price
3. Buttermilk
Known to be one of the widely used home remedies for dehydration, buttermilk is packed with nutrients like magnesium along with being loaded with high water content. It is not only easy on the stomach but acts as a natural probiotic which aids in dealing with diarrhea and indigestion, which could be the reason for dehydration. A glass of buttermilk twice or thrice a day is all you need to drink to ensure your body stays hydrated and healthy.
Plain buttermilk works wonders for dehydration. However, you can crush a small piece of ginger and add it to buttermilk to improve its taste and benefits. Avoid drinking spicy buttermilk by adding loads of chilies or chaat masala as it might worsen your stomach woes.
4. Coconut water
Coconut water is one of the traditional home remedies for dehydration caused due to diarrhea. It is isotonic in nature which means that the electrolyte level in this water is similar to those found in the body thereby helping you to maintain the electrolyte and water balance. Coconut water has adequate potassium and glucose content along with chloride and sodium, which make it a perfectly healthy drink for dehydration and diarrhea. If you suffer from dehydration make sure you sip coconut water throughout the day. This can not only help you to replenish the lost minerals in the body but also keep you hydrated.
5. Lemon water
Known as nimbu paani, lemon water acts as a refreshing drink, especially during summers. It acts as one of the best home remedies for dehydration as it not only ups your water intake and helps you to stay hydrated but also prevents dehydration. The addition of salt and sugar to lemon water helps you to replenish the lost salts in the body along with increasing your vitamins and minerals level. Hence, if you ever feel thirsty or experience any symptoms of dehydration, drink lemon water to restore your fluid and electrolyte balance.
**Consult India’s best doctors here**
6. Orange juice
Oranges contain nutrients and water, which makes it one of the perfect home remedies for dehydration treatment and prevention. It contains Vitamin C, which flushes the toxins from the body and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium which help replenish the nutrient levels in the body. The presence of sugar in this drink provides an instant energy dose helping you to deal with dehydration. Add a pinch of salt and sugar to make it a perfect drink for dehydration. You can even dilute the drink to make it easy to drink and up its water content.
7. Rice water
Rice water, also known as rice kanji, is one of the conventional health drinks which is used to fight summer heat, heat stroke, diarrhea, and dehydration. This is because rice is loaded with B-complex vitamins which can help you to deal with nutrient loss. Also, water lost due to excessive sweating or dehydration can aid in maintaining the fluid balance in the body. As rice water contains salt, it also provides minerals such as chloride and sodium, thus restoring the lost nutrients in the body.
(The article is reviewed by Dr. Lalit Kanodia, General Physician)
Recommended Reads:
8 Signs Of Dehydration Everyone Must Be Aware Of!
5 Common Causes Of Excessive Thirst Or Polydipsia
References:
1. Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH. Water, hydration, and health. Nutr Rev. 2010 Aug;68(8):439-58.
2. Nasir NH, Mohamad M, Lum LCS, Ng CJ. Effectiveness of a fluid chart in outpatient management of suspected dengue fever: A pilot study. PLoS One. 2017 Oct 4;12(10):e0183544.
3. Chauhan OP, Archana BS, Singh A, Raju PS, Bawa AS. A refreshing beverage from mature coconut water blended with lemon juice. J Food Sci Technol. 2014 Nov;51(11):3355-61.
4. White, Linda B., Barbara H. Seeber, and Barbara Brownell Grogan. 500 Time-tested Home Remedies and the Science Behind Them: Ease Aches, Pains, Ailments, and More with Hundreds of Simple and Effective At-home Treatments. Fair Winds Press, 2013.
5. Ho TF, Yip WC. Oral rehydration solution. Rice water is cheap and effective. BMJ. 2001 Nov 3;323(7320):1068.