10 Home Remedies for Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when the water levels in your body drop below permissible levels and disturb the intricate equilibrium of essential minerals found in the body. If you lose more fluids than you take in, it can disrupt many bodily functions. Excessive sweating, frequent urination, vomiting, diarrhea and a high fever a just a few factors that can lead to dehydration. During hot summer days, if proper care is not taken and you do not drink enough water throughout the day, your body will lose a large volume of fluid and salts. This can lead to dehydration, especially if you are outdoors in the heat or performing strenuous exercise or activities. There are a variety of home remedies for dehydration, however, if you reach a critical and severe level, seek medical attention immediately.

Water

Water is the best and simplest remedy. Drinking plenty of water for someone who is mildly or moderately dehydrated is very beneficial. It is important to rest and drink water in small sips continually over a 24-hour period to replenish the body’s lost fluids. In severe cases, fluids may need to be transmitted into the body intravenously. Glucose water can also help remedy dehydration as it contains electrolytes. Low levels of electrolytes are common with dehydration and can be replaced by sports drinks and glucose water.

Fruits

Fruits with high water content can help since they are so concentrated with water. These watery fruits include watermelons, bananas, strawberries, grapefruit, papaya, grapes, and cantaloupes. These fruits can be eaten so as to replenish hydration levels. Alternatively, they can be prepared as juice to replenish fluid levels in the body. Adding a pinch of salt and sugar to the fruit juice can also help to replenish the body’s electrolyte levels. Eating watery fruits to help dehydration is a great idea since it also contributes to replenishing lost minerals like potassium.

Vegetables

Vegetables with higher than average water content are also a good way to help replenish bodily fluid levels. Eat vegetables like cucumber, spinach, celery, eggplants, zucchini, radishes, and tomatoes to treat someone who is mildly dehydrated. Research has shown that watery fruits and vegetables are twice as effective at rehydrating the body compared to simply drinking water. As a natural cure for mild dehydration, preparing a tasty salad with these vegetables can help restore fluid levels. Additionally, as with watery fruits, these vegetables also help to replenish lost minerals in the body.

Salt

Excessive sweating during an intense exercise routine or a rigorous activity can lead to mild dehydration. This can be remedied with salty food like crackers, pretzels or salted nuts, etc. The extra salt will help to regularize the body’s electrolyte levels. If you consume extra salt, you should drink plenty of clean, fresh water too. Adding a pinch of salt to your drinking water is a good way of getting enough extra salt into your system while drinking enough water.

Buttermilk

A cup of buttermilk mixed with a teaspoon of dry ginger and a pinch of salt is an excellent hydrator. Drink this mixture three to four times a day to help with chronic dehydration. Buttermilk is a great source of minerals that will help to replenish the body’s electrolyte levels while rehydrating the body thanks to its high water content. It is a great drink to prepare in the hot summer months and to simply enjoy a delicious drink.

Yogurt and cottage cheese

An effective remedy to restore sodium and potassium levels in the body, yogurt, and cottage cheese, can help with hydration. Adding fenugreek powder to your yogurt is one of the best home remedies for dehydration. Yogurt is a good solution for a patient who is experiencing this condition as a result of diarrhea and vomiting. It is also easily digestible and soothing for the stomach. Try yogurt mixed with plain boiled rice and seasoned with a pinch of salt.

Baking soda and salt

Baking soda and salt combine to form a homemade oral rehydration solution. Boil one liter of water and allow it to cool before adding half a teaspoon of baking soda, a single teaspoon of salt and two heaped teaspoons of sugar. Mix the solution well and serve to the dehydrated patient several times a day. This solution is a great remedy to energize and revitalize anyone suffering from dehydration, as well as replace lost electrolytes.

Coconut water

Coconut water is a quick solution to help remedy dehydration at home. It has high levels of electrolytes, as well as high in iron and potassium. These characteristics allow the body to become hydrated a lot quicker than plain water. Similar to sports drinks, coconut water is ideal for replacing lost fluids and electrolytes during sports. It is best to drink fresh coconut water to get the best minerals from the coconut.

Rice Porridge or Congee

Congee is a traditional dish in South Asian countries. Thick rice porridge or congee is a popular treatment for dehydration. Brown rice is the best option with which to prepare the rice porridge at home. Prepared with a pinch of salt for the dehydrated patient, the rice gruel can also help normalize the body’s levels of electrolytes.

Epsom bath

A little-known home remedy for dehydration is taking a bath with Epsom salts. If you are suffering from a mild to moderate form, draw a bath, add some Epsom salts and lie and relax in it for ten to fifteen minutes. Epsom salts help the body by enhancing the absorption of nutrients, helping the body get back to normal levels. Since the concentration of magnesium in Epsom salt is high, it is a helpful remedy for dehydration. The magnesium absorbs through the skin while you soak in the bath, counteracting many negative effects caused by an insufficient water intake. Additionally, an Epsom bath can also treat inflammation, sore muscles, and extreme fatigue.