Hot Summer Increases Need For Fluids D ry lips and tongue. Bright colored or dark urine. Apathy and lethargy. These are the warning signs of dehydration, the loss of body water.
Water is the main component of most of the cells in the body, especially muscle cells.
That may explain why many victims of dehydration are athletes and others who work outside during the hot summer months. When those who spend a lot of time working or playing outdoors don't drink enough water, they cannot process the energy from their food as well. That's because every cell in the body and muscles cells in particular, need water to carry out their metabolic processes. So, when fluid levels in the body are low, physical performance suffers. By the time you feel thirsty, you may have already lost essential fluids and electrolytes that can affect your performance.