We’ve all felt it. That feeling of irritation (or, you know, blind and seething rage) we get when we REALLY need to eat.
Yep, “hangry” has well and truly entered English lexicon. But do you ever feel a little (or a lot) irritable when you’re thirsty? You’re not alone! Here’s why “thangry” is most definitely a “thang”.
Why we get thangry when we’re thirsty.
Water is a pretty important ingredient for making a human. In fact, we’re made up of about 65 per cent H20!
So, being well hydrated keeps all our other stuff – sugars, salts and other minerals – in balance. “All of which influence things such as our mood, concentration and general feeling of wellbeing,” says our in house dietician Natalie Bourke. “Is thangry a thing? Absolutely!”
Dehydration is enough to make anyone cranky.
Thirst can be one of the first signs that you’re on the way to dehydration town.
The whole “if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated” thing is a little controversial though.
“Most experts don’t consider someone to be dehydrated until their blood concentration has increased by five per cent,” says Nat. “Thirst begins sooner than that, usually around the two per cent mark.”
That said, even very mild dehydration can have a whole host of not-so-fun side effects, including sweating, headaches, fatigue, cramps, dizziness and even cognitive decline. That’s enough to make anyone feel a little off.
Your hanger might actually BE thanger.
Both hunger and thirst trigger the same areas in the brain. From an evolutionary perspective this makes sense, as many foods naturally contain high levels of H20. Plus, poor hydration can wreak havoc on our blood sugar and sodium levels, which can contribute to food cravings.
“Something else to note is that the symptoms of dehydration and hunger are somewhat similar. It can make it difficult for us to mentally differentiate between the two,” says Nat. “And let’s be honest, a delicious green smoothie is much more appealing in those situations than a glass of water!”
So how much water should I really be drinking?
While popular opinion spurs on the old “eight glasses a day” mantra, most experts would tell you there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to how much water you should drink.
That’s because required water intake can depend on your age, gender, weight, underlying health conditions, level of physical activity and even the weather.
As a general recommendation, Nat suggests 2 litres per day. “I strongly emphasise the word ‘general’ here, as water intake can vary highly between individuals.”
A good indicator as to whether you’re getting enough is the colour of the water, er, coming back out again. If your urine is light and clear, you’re likely drinking enough. If it’s darker or more cloudy, you might want to sneak in an extra glass or two throughout the day.
Because you’re not you when you’re thangry!
(Editor’s note: If you’re always thirsty or you notice a big change in your urine, this may point to an underlying health condition. We recommend you speak to your medical practitioner.)
0 comments :
Post a Comment