The Importance of Hydration for Your Health and How It Helps if You Are ‘Glutened’

Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water is very important to your health. This is the case for every person, no matter their age and health condition. We should all be staying hydrated, every day, but it does become that little bit more important in certain situations. If you are coeliac and have been accidentally ‘glutened’, for instance, drinking plenty of water will help you to stay hydrated if you are suffering with vomiting and diarrhoea.

What happens when you are ‘glutened’?

If you are coeliac and eat anything with gluten in it, you may end up suffering with the following symptoms, either straight away or within a short period of time:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Headaches
• Brain fog
• Bloating and excessive wind

Even the smallest amount of gluten could cause these symptoms, and it is a sign that your intestines are under attack.

How to combat being ‘glutened’

If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms and are worried that you have accidentally ingested gluten, there are some things that you can do right away that can help you.

• Stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water to replace the fluids lost through vomiting and/or Diarrhoea
• Rest and take it easy on your body, as you need time to rest and recharge
• If you are suffering with stomach cramps and pains, relieve that pain with a hot water bottle

Top of Form

The benefits of a gluten free prescription service

If you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease, a gluten-free prescription is one of the best ways that you can begin to change your lifestyle. It provides you access to gluten free products that you can use with the peace of mind that there is no gluten present when you are baking and cooking.

How to stay hydrated and healthy

Understanding the importance of hydration is one thing, but there are types of drinks you should avoid too, especially at times when you are concentrating on your health, making a big lifestyle change, or when you have been accidentally ‘glutened’ as a coeliac. Don’t have drinks that are high in sugar on a regular basis, as these are higher in calories and bad for your teeth. Drink regularly throughout the day, and if you want to drink something other than water try sparkling water, adding no added sugar squash, or even just a slice of lemon or lime to your glass of water. If you do want to drink soft drinks, always choose sugar free or no added sugar options. If you have coeliac disease, always be mindful of avoiding drinks that contain gluten, for example barley water squashes.

You can tell a lot from the colour of your urine

The colour of your pee should be a clear pale yellow, and this is what you should be aiming for. Most commonly, people end up with this colour urine, a healthy colour, when they are drinking between 6 to 8 glasses of fluid per day. This can include water, low-fat milk, sugar-free drinks, tea and coffee. If it is an especially hot day or you are exercising, you should up your intake to remain hydrated and healthy.

Once you have first been diagnosed with coeliac disease, it is important that you take the right steps and create a new, solid foundation from which you live your life. This includes completely removing gluten from your diet, taking advice from your GP, and taking advantage of any support that you qualify for, such as potentially being entitled to access gluten free foods, products and ingredients through a prescription. Staying hydrated is always important, especially if you are looking to stay hydrated when facing vomiting, diarrhoea and other symptoms of being ‘glutened’.