3 Easy Tips to Stay Hydrated This Summer
Summer has begun and so has the high heat that causes us to look for the nearest shade or water hose when outside. (Did you do that growing up? Wouldn’t recommend it now, it can carry many chemicals!) Pool parties become play dates, and the beach is the local spot! For every outdoor activity, hydration is so important to feel optimal, especially if you are planning to be in the sun! Staying hydrated also means drinking water days before an outdoor event to prep your body in advance! (Does anyone have kiddos in sports?) When my son was young, he attended a baseball camp and fainted. The fire department had to quickly show up and the #1 thing the firefighter mentioned was making sure that he hydrates well before the games. Hydration needs to happen not just the day of but days before, especially when it’s a big event like tryouts, pool parties, beach, or working out. So, drinking water EVERYDAY is key!
Water is essential for health. It is the most important nutrient in the body. Every cell, tissue, and organ in the body needs water to work properly. For example, water:
Lubricates and cushions joints
Protects sensitive tissues
Carries nutrients and oxygen to cells
Helps to regulate body temperature
Helps the body eliminate wastes
Not everyone likes water, though. The constant lure of soda, coffee, juice drinks, and energy drinks everywhere around us is real. Did you know those drinks dehydrate your body? Just another reason that water should ideally be the go-to before any other beverages. Since the body cannot store water, we need to drink fresh supplies every day.
Here are my 3 Easy Tips To Stay Hydrated This Summer:
Calculate the amount of water you really need. The amount of water we need depends on many factors, including our age, health, activity level, and the climate we live in. Most health experts recommend that adults drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. However, depending on your needs, you may need more or less than this. When it comes to staying hydrated, listening to your body and drinking when you’re thirsty is important. Chugging lots of water all at once is also not advisable either, so checking in with yourself throughout the day and spreading it out is the best way to ensure you’re getting adequate amounts. The formula for the amount of water ideal for your unique makeup is to take your body weight, divide that in half, and half that in ounces. I would not exceed over 100oz.
Add some flavor (+electrolytes!) to your water! Sometimes you just need a little something to add interest. After all, when there’s soda, coffee, etc. around it can be hard to opt for something plain. One way around this is to try adding frozen fruit, cucumbers, mint, and lemon to spruce up your water! Get creative. My kids love it when I try out delicious flavor combinations. Now onto electrolytes- I don’t know if you have seen me add a pinch of real salt or even some Re-Lyte into my water (watermelon-lime is my favorite flavor!). Electrolytes (found in real salt and my favorite electrolyte brand Re-Lyte) help regulate and control the balance of fluids in the body. They’re minerals found in your body that do amazing things. Think of them like mini spark plugs! When you sweat, you eliminate electrolytes, so drinking water with added electrolytes is a wonderful way to replenish them. Here is my favorite brand that I use (get 15% off with this link!). The more real hydration your body has on a consistent basis, the more you’ll crave it.
Store your water in a place that’s visible and accessible + always have a bottle on hand. I’ve started storing our water in an easy-to-pour glass mason jar with an airtight lid in the fridge. It’s a great way to encourage my family to drink more water because it’s visible and so easy to grab a glass on the go. My boys have this mason jar with a pourable lid as their very own water bottle at home (which is genius -no more hundreds of cups everywhere, lol!). I love having a glass water bottle (got mine from Target for $5), even stainless-steel containers. Plastic can leach chemicals, and especially during hot summer days (if you leave your water bottle in the car), it’s best to stick with stainless steel or glass. Both these options won’t leach any harmful chemicals into your water. Have you heard about the craze on the 40 oz Stanley Cup Tumblers? I love that it fits in the cup holder in the car!! I can’t wait to get my hand on one!
It’s important to remember that dehydration can cause many health problems. What are some signs of dehydration?
Mature signs of dehydration:
Heartburn
Joint pain
Migraines
Constipation
Fibromyalgia
Early signs of dehydration:
Fatigue
Anxiety
Irritability
Depression
Cramps
Headaches
Hydrating yourself allows your body to function. Without it none of the countless processes it undergoes on a second-to-second basis are possible. So when we talk about staying hydrated, this is why. Because good hydration = gives all systems in the body what they need to function optimally on the most foundational of levels.
When choosing a water source, be sure to select a safe option that will not put your health at risk. Having pure, clean water is so important for your health because, unfortunately, not all water is equal. A whole house filtration system is an amazing option but I know this is a bigger price commitment and not accessible to everyone. There are more affordable options, such as the Berkey, that are relatively easy to set up and maintain. I love it! It sits on the counter and doesn’t take up a lot of extra space. I can add my sink water to it and get cleaner and safer water to drink.
Without water, your health would quickly decline. In fact, you can only survive for a few days without it. That’s why staying hydrated is so important by drinking plenty of fluids each day. Water is the best option, but you can also get fluids from other beverages, such as juice, milk, and tea. Eating fruits and vegetables will also help keep you hydrated. So, make sure to include them in your diet.
Stay hydrated out there this summer! Don’t forget to add some electrolytes too!
