On Dehydration Headaches

My head hurts. I'm thirsty. My mouth is dry. I know that had I not used my favorite cream-oil body wash, my skin would be dry too. *sigh* I'm dehydrated again.

photo by Pikku-Kettu

One thing about Ashtanga yoga is that it really makes you sweat. This is great when you're well-hydrated and you can flush all the toxins out. When you're like me and don't always drink enough water, well, you get the symptoms listed above.

When I can feel it starting, I try to drink a lot of water. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't and I notice that I just pee all the water away. I learned in Thailand that sometimes the body can't absorb all the water even if you're drinking enough because it's saline level is too low for the body.

Remember high school biology and osmosis? Water will move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration, in an effort to balance the system. If you add a pinch of salt (best to stick with organic rock salt and not the iodized stuff) to the water, it helps the water molecules to be absorbed by the body.

Photo by CecillePL

It also helps to add a squeeze of lemon to the water. You would think that this would make the water acidic, but in fact it makes it alkaline (basic), and thus also easier for the body to absorb. I like the tartness of lemon, but one great thing about practicing yoga in Manila is that I can do this with calamansi! :) I love the flavor of calamansi.

So there you go, mix a pinch of salt + a squish of lemon/calamansi + water = helps you stay nicely hydrated and ready for that next class.