Staying hydrated is important — every organ, cell and tissue in your body depends on water for survival. Proper hydration also addresses a bevy of health concerns, from dry mouth and bad breath to gallstones and irregularity. Each day you
Staying hydrated is important — every organ, cell and tissue in your body depends on water for survival.
Proper hydration also addresses a bevy of health concerns, from dry mouth and bad breath to gallstones and irregularity.
Each day you lose water by simply going to the bathroom, sweating and breathing. Replacing these lost fluids is vital to preventing dehydration.
Some common symptoms of dehydration include:
Infrequent urination
Urine that is darker in color than usual
Extreme thirst
Dry mouth
Sleepiness or fatigue
Headache
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Confusion
You can help prevent dehydration by following these simple steps:
Keep a bottle of water on hand.
Sipping on water throughout the day will help prevent dehydration. Add a slice of lemon or lime for flavor, if you like.
Make it a point to drink a glass of water when you wake and before bed.
Eat fruits and vegetables. They are naturally water-dense, especially citrus fruits, watermelon, lettuce and tomatoes.
Drink water before you exercise, as well as during and after.
If you are drinking alcohol, always pair it with a glass of water to offset its dehydrating effects.
Curried chicken pitas
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
6 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon curry powder
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken breast (see Tip)
1 ripe but firm pear, diced
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted (see Tip)
4 4- to 5-inch whole-wheat pita breads, cut in half
2 cups sprouts
Preparation
Combine yogurt, mayonnaise and curry powder in a large bowl. Add chicken, pear, celery, cranberries and almonds; toss to combine.
Fill each pita half with 1/2 cup chicken salad and 1/4 cup sprouts.
Tips & Notes
Make ahead tip: Cover and refrigerate the salad (Step 1) for up to 2 days.
Tip: If you don’t have cooked chicken, poach about 12 ounces chicken breast for this recipe.
Place boneless, skinless chicken breast in a medium skillet or saucepan. Add lightly salted water (or chicken
• Rachelle Bachran is public health educator with the Hawaii State Department of Health in Lihue.
