Quality Sleep and Dehydration

[BobbieM]

KThanks. I thought about your comment on electrolytes. Perhaps my diet is too salty. That would make me thirsty despite the light coloured pee.  I also hate to drink plain water but had forced myself to do so because I thought - after reading some newspaper magazine - that it was good for health. I’m now back to juices and even colas. It seems to help. Or maybe it’s psychosomatic and I just needed handholding!!!

[Ratchick]

There may be other reasons to cut down on juice and soda - the amount of sugar is high in both, and highly caffeinated drinks can be a problem for anxiety, sleep etc - but from a purely hydrating point of view, it's a common misconception that only water counts. I tend to prefer fruit juice cut with carbonated water, just a bit to give it flavour, but yes, if you eat a lot of salt, then you need to drink a corresponding amount of fluid to balance that. This is why they have bowls of peanuts and other salty snacks in bars because all that salt encourages you to drink more. I wouldn't recommend soda over water, per se, but yeah, having the odd soda or some juice isn't going to hurt you from a dehydration point of view.

[BobbieM]

Someone could make oodles of money inventing a drink that tastes like juice or sofa or wine but without the calories and the ill effects on health!!

[DaveL]

Thanks Ratchick. As a young lad I delivered newspapers. There was a Coke machine on the route. In no time I was hooked. It cost 15 cents for a large bottle of coca cola. I anticipated it and needed that every day. I was 13 then...

I drink filtered water now. I have issues though. I have a prescription for high blood pressure medicine. I stopped taking it for years and years, but was busted when I broke my shoulder and went to the local hospital emergency room.

I have issues with retained fluid and emergency trips to the washroom that seem to be stress related. Every time I take my RX for blood pressure I consider stopping.

[Ratchick]

Your high blood pressure medication might be a diuretic - if so, that is going to make you pee a LOT more after you take it, so I recommend googling the drug and checking if it is. If that's a problematic side effect, there are different kinds of high blood pressure medicines, and another might be a better fit for you.

Caffeine is actually addictive - so if you (or anyone) find it hard to stop when you drink a lot of tea, coffee, colas etc, especially if you get irritable and headachy without them, you may need to just cut down a little more gradually (or just accept that those symptoms will go away after a few days and a re normal).

[Crimson Nape]

To add to Ratchick's post. A reduction or elimination of caffeine can cause headaches. This can last up to 2 weeks. I'm not saying it will happen, just advising you that it may happen, and it's normal.

[BobbieM]

BDaveL, how did you kick the cola habit or did you just grow out it?

[DaveL]

BobbieM--I simply resolved to stop drinking it. I didn't need it. I didn't substitute anything. However, it took real resolve to quit.

I have substituted tea for coffee successfully. Then somehow years later started drinking both. I drink both now.

[Ratchick]

Ha, Red, I thought I mentioned headaches, they're the worst!

I quit my caffeine habit years ago, not so much because of the caffeine but because the drinks that tended to contain caffeine exacerbated some of my health issues. And now, I have a neurological issue that absolutely is sensitive to caffeine, and that really annoys me because I used to be one of those people who never got jittery off coffee and it never kept me awake, etc. Now I just have to look at it and my heart rate skyrockets up to 150-200bpm so no coffee for me.

Shame, maybe if I had coffee at bedtime it might keep my brain working while I sleep and cure my CSA? LOL

[DaveL]

150-200 bpm would be a real shock.

Can you drink holistic tea?