Hello everyone, we hope that you’re enjoying the official last week of summer before the Labor Day holiday. There’s no better time to put on a picnic and feature fresh summer veggies and fruits in your menus. Come on down to Pathfinder Produce, this Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m. to check out all the great and tasty items we have “in store” for you. You’ll want to try some of our delicious Pathfinder Hoop House products too … you can’t get anything fresher!
My son – now a high school senior – and other student-athletes are now in their full training schedule and running, pushing, striving and sweating. (These past two weeks, my son’s been doing conditioning for Cross Country in the morning, with full Varsity Soccer practices in the afternoon … phew). It’s so important that athletes drink plenty of fresh, cool water each day to keep healthy and to stave off dehydration. I took a look back at some of my older blogs on hydration and wanted to repost this one from September 2016.
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Over the past two weeks, the area’s youth soccer players and the members of the Edmeston Central School’s Cross Country Team have returned to Pathfinder Village for practices and competitions at Grant’s Field and the Pathfinder Community Trail. It’s wonderful to have our youngsters enjoy Pathfinder’s athletic fields, and we offer a great round of thanks to the parents who support these teams. We’re looking forward to a memorable season for all the athletes.
My own son, now on the varsity soccer team at his school, requested that I buy a new water bottle for him, large enough so that he has plenty of water during games and practices. I was happy to do this, as I know how important it is for athletes to stay hydrated. Typically, the kid will take a water bottle with him to school, sip it during the day and at lunch, and then refill it before his afternoon practices.
When I was looking online to purchase the bottle, I got thinking about how we can actually know if we get enough water each day. Many folks use the general guidelines of the “8 x 8 rule.” A quick online search reveals that the amount of water you actually need is more determined by your size, your level of activity, and other factors. Some also believe that it is beneficial to drink water throughout the day, rather than at intervals. And there are plenty of studies that show that drinking cold water boosts metabolism and can help you lose weight if you drink water about 30 minutes before eating.
One thing that I’ve read online, and have experienced, is that it is possible to confuse thirst with hunger. Livestrong recommends that the next time you think you are hungry, try drinking water and see if your cravings go away.
I found out too, that there are several free iPhone and Android apps that people can use to help track their water intake. By logging in how often you drink, you understand your water needs better and reinforce the positive behavior of drinking regularly. I think I’m going to download one of these and see how it goes. If you don’t have a smartphone or aren’t tech savvy, there are plenty of page printouts you can use to help you get enough daily fluids.
And, not to gross anyone out, but if you aren’t one to track things, the surest indicator that you are getting enough water is to gauge the color of your urine. If it’s dark yellow, it’s too concentrated and you need to drink more. For those who care for children, always check to see if they are getting enough water; monitor diapers and pull-ups using the color scale, and observe if their eyes appear sunken or if they have tears when they are crying. If there aren’t any tears, the child is dehydrated, needs to drink and may need medical attention.
Older people are also highly prone to becoming dehydrated, which can cause a list of conditions from confusion to constipation, from rapid heart rates to very serious UTIs. Encourage your older loved ones to always drink enough water, even if they aren’t always keen on the idea.
Until next time, enjoy these glorious days of fall, and drink up!
Lori
