Water, water and its importance everywhere

As we prepare for warmer weather, I would like to inform everyone on the importance of drinking water.

Plain drinking water has zero calories, and is beneficial for our health. In fact, water can help maintain our body weight and/or aid in reducing our calorie intake.

Adults and youth are encouraged to consume water every day. Our daily intake of fluid which is often called total water, is defined as “amount of water consumed from foods, plain drinking water and other beverages. Daily fluid intake recommendations vary by age, sex, pregnancy, and breastfeeding status.” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports “Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, constipation, and kidney stone (2017).

Dehydration can occur when an individual has used and/or lost more fluid than they have taken in, and your body does not have an adequate amount of water or fluids to perform normal functions. The symptoms and signs of dehydration depend an individual’s age. As thirst is not a reliable indicator of an individual’s need for water (Mayoclinic, 2017). In fact, older adults may not experience a “thirst” until they are already dehydrated. Therefore, everyone staying hydrated is very important.

Some of the causes of dehydration are simple as someone not drinking enough water because of illness, or too busy. However, there are additional conditions that can cause dehydration. Those conditions are:

-- Diarrhea, vomiting: Diarrhea can cause a loss of water and electrolytes. If one experiences vomiting and diarrhea, you may experience a greater loss of fluids and minerals.

-- Fever: Mayo Clinic reports that the higher your fever, the more dehydrated you become.

-- Excessive Sweating: As we sweat, we lose water. If an individual participates in a physical activity that produces sweat, and does not replace their fluids as they go along, they become dehydrated (Mayoclinic, 2017).

In hopes of preventing dehydration, individuals are encouraged by Mayoclinic to drink plenty of fluids, and consume foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming events

May 17 -- Indiana Extension Homemakers Leader Lesson “Microwave Pie,” 2:30 p.m.

May 24 -- Pollinator workshop, 6:30 p.m., Fairgrounds. Register at http://tinyurl.com/y92nks32.

June 14 – Electricity 4-H workshop, 9 a.m.-noon, Harris Hall, Fairgrounds.

June 20 – YQCA cert program, Fairgrounds, 10 a.m., RSVP online.

June 20 – YQCA cert program, Fairgrounds, 1 p.m., RSVP online.