Table of contents:
- Why do we feel thirsty?
- The cause of sugary foods and drinks makes you thirsty quickly
- Immediately see a doctor if you are often thirsty quickly
Sweet foods may be one of your favorite foods. The reason is, the calorie content in sugar provides a delicious sensation when eaten. However, the sugar content in food tends to make the throat feel very dry. That's why you get thirsty quickly and want to drink more fluids. So, why do sugary foods and drinks make you thirsty quickly? Here's the explanation.
Why do we feel thirsty?
Simply put, thirst is a normal sensation when the body needs fluid intake. Fluctuation of thirst is common. Generally occurs due to food factors, weather, physical activity, and other factors. Meanwhile, drastically decreased thirst is usually associated with several health problems such as diabetes, acute dehydration, mental disorders, or head injuries.
Thirst signals generated by the body serve to tell you when the body's fluid levels need to be refilled. This is because the body's organ systems are used to working with certain levels of fluids. When the body fluids start to decrease, then the brain will signal thirst so that you fulfill it immediately. Its function is so that the work of all organs in the body is not disturbed.
The cause of sugary foods and drinks makes you thirsty quickly
Thirst that arises after consuming sugary foods is related to a spike in glucose (sugar) in the blood. When you eat sweet foods, the sugar in the food will enter the stomach and continue into the bloodstream throughout the body. This means that blood glucose levels increase.
After the sugar particles reach the bloodstream, the water content from the body's cells will move out of the cells and into the blood. This aims to maintain the balance of fluids in the blood so that it is not too thick due to excess sugar. This process is called osmolarity in the blood.
Osmolarity is a condition that describes how many molecules must be dissolved in a liquid. The more substances that are dissolved, the higher the osmolarity. As with sugar intake, the more sugar is consumed, the more sugar molecules must be dissolved in the liquid.
The brain regularly monitors blood concentrations to maintain normal levels. When there is too much glucose in the blood, the body's cells will send a signal to the brain that it is time for the body to consume additional fluids. This is what causes thirst.
The same is the case when you drink a drink that contains sugar, aka sweet drinks. When you feel thirsty in the hot weather, your eyes will focus more on the fresh juice or other sugary drink to quench your thirst. This method is just wrong. Sweet drinks will only increase your thirst. So, it's better to choose water to soothe your throat without increasing thirst.
Actually it's not just sweet foods that can make you thirsty. Salty and spicy foods can have the same effect. Especially if you eat sweet and salty foods at the same time, automatically the sensation of thirst will multiply.
Immediately see a doctor if you are often thirsty quickly
Excessive thirst does not necessarily indicate that you are addicted to sweet foods. It can also indicate certain medical conditions, one of which is diabetes. If you also experience blurred vision, fatigue, changes in the frequency of urination every day, then check with your doctor immediately for a more precise diagnosis.
Under any circumstances, your body still needs fluid intake. In fact, according to an article published in the Physiological Research Center, people become thirsty faster with age. Therefore, make sure your fluid needs are met even if you don't feel thirsty.
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