9 Foods That Will Dehydrate You
You're sitting at your desk and haven't moved from your spot in hours. Your headaches, your stomach is queasy, and suddenly you feel a wave of exhaustion. What is this awful bug you've suddenly caught? But before you panic about getting another seasonal cold ask yourself one question: Did I drink water today?
Surely you had a few cups of coffee and maybe ate some eggs and bacon, so it isn't like you've had nothing in your system all day. But not drinking water and even eating certain foods can leave you literally high and dry. According to the Mayo Clinic, dehydrations occurs "when you lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you may get dehydrated."
Click here to see the 9 Foods That Will Dehydrate You (Slideshow).
Typically, excessive vomiting, fevers, sweating, and urination are the chief causes of dehydration. But what many people don't think about is the fact that certain foods and drinks can cause severe dehydration as well. For instance, a smidge of soy sauce is fine, but did you know that a teen who guzzled about a quart of soy sauce nearly died from an electrolyte imbalance called hypernatremia, which occurs in dehydrated seafarers when they run out of fresh water? Or that too many cups of coffee could end up leaving you light-headed due to coffee's natural diuretic and caffeine properties?
Each of these foods is a huge source of stress on your body's water storage when consumed in high quantities. Click through our slideshow to learn what else could be drying you out!
This article was originally published November 22, 2013.