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It's natural to consider the drinks you are consuming or skipping when asked about your hydration level. Nevertheless, you may not be familiar that your diet also significantly affects how well you stay hydrated. Some meals help us stay hydrated by providing us with more water and/or electrolytes. For the uninitiated, electrolytes aid in controlling and distributing water throughout the body. To the same extent, some foods might cause a rapid loss of body water. What are some of the most frequent causative factors of further dehydration? Here are 9 foods that trigger dehydration.
Processed Foods
Ultra-processed foods, such as potato chips, frozen boxed meals, fast food, and your favourite candy bar, might be some of the most dehydrating choices. Although tasty, these foods typically include a large amount of salt, added sugar, and even protein. These super-processed choices are sneaky dehydration saboteurs due to the presence of the indispensable trio of dehydrating ingredients.
High Sodium
Potato chips, Image Source: Pexels
Salty meals trigger a signal in the brain that says you need water. Fast food, potato chips, canned meals, deli meats, and condiments like tomato sauce, mustard, and salad dressing are all examples of foods high in salt. The blood's salinity and pH change when there's too much sodium. To restore homeostasis, the body will draw water from the cells and put it into circulation to reduce blood salinity and increase pH. It can lead to high blood pressure and dehydration since our cells spend all their water supply trying to restore equilibrium.
Beetroots
Beets provide an abundance of beneficial nutrients. However, it has a high potassium content, and this mineral is responsible for helping the body eliminate excess fluid. This may be the explanation for how often you feel the urgency to use the restroom after consuming your preferred beet juice. Keep in mind that the higher the frequency you experience to urinate, the more water you should drink.
Artichokes
The popular artichoke is loaded with fibre, vitamins, and minerals, promoting good health. Its high asparagine content and reputation as a diuretic make it similar to asparagus. However, very few of us will ever consume enough artichoke in a single day to significantly alter our water balance.
Sorbitol
Any artificial sweetener, such as sorbitol, that is known to cause diarrhoea will also produce excessive water losses, which might lead to dehydration. So, be watchful about consuming sorbitol, especially in summer.
Pickles
Pickles are also rather dehydrating. This is because they usually contain excessive amounts of salt. Luckily, there are lower sodium kinds that can soften the sting of the salt and help you stay hydrated without sacrificing your desire to fulfil your desires.
Soy Sauce
While soy sauce has some of the most delicious umami tastes, its high salt content means that it does nothing to help us stay hydrated. Even the reduced-sodium variants include far more sodium than is healthy, so if you're dehydrated or attempting to drink more water, you should limit your intake of this salty sauce.
Asparagus
A bunch of fresh asparagus, Image Source: Pexels
Asparagus is a superfood, so you can eat it without worrying about how much water you'll lose. However, it does contain significant amounts of diuretic asparagine. The body responds by making more of the chemical in question. Consuming excessive quantities (five servings or more) or being in a state that makes you more susceptible to dehydration is a greater cause for concern when it comes to the dehydrating effects of this vegetable.
Sweets
Desserts like cookies, cakes, ice creams, and the like, whether made with refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, can lead to dehydration. This is because both extra sugar and some sugar alternatives can cause diarrhoea, which can significantly deplete our water storage.
