Easy Ways to Stay Hydrated This Summer

Making sure you keep your body hydrated is very important during the summer months. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time outdoors in the heat. Whether you are mowing the lawn, gardening, or playing sports, you need to stay hydrated.

Dehydration can happen quickly if you are out in the heat, working and sweating. Sweating, helps keep our bodies cool, but in the process we lose water that our body needs to stay hydrated. Here are some easy ways that you can stay hydrated this summer.

Healthy Eating
Eating healthy foods on a regular basis will help keep your body hydrated. Fruits, vegetable, and even meats, contain nutrients that help this process. You will still need to take steps to stay hydrated, if you are going to be outside in the heat for an extended amount of time.

Increase Your Water Intake
We have all heard that we need to drink 8-12 glasses of water each day. Drinking water is one of the quickest and easiest ways to keep our bodies hydrated.

If you don't like plain water, adding some flavor can help. Drop in a slice of lemon, add a few drops of lemon juice, or any other fruit juice that you enjoy.

If you know you will be out in the heat for a long time, prepare ahead of time. Freeze a couple of bottles of water to take outside with you. Keep them close by, so you can grab a quick drink every few minutes.

Eat More Fruit
Snacking on some juicy, fresh fruit is another easy way to stay hydrated during the summer. Apples, oranges, berries, grapes, watermelon, and many other fruits will help keep you hydrated. If you aren't a big drinker, this can be a great alternative.

Eat More Vegetables
Vegetables are packed with nutrients that can help keep our bodies hydrated. If you aren't a big veggie eater, here is a suggestion. Make yourself a fruit smoothie, but throw in a couple of small veggies. The fruit helps mask the taste of the vegetables. This is a great way to sneak a few veggies in on your kids.

Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are full of electrolytes, sodium and potassium, that our bodies need replenished after long periods of strenuous exercise or sports activities. If you are just outside doing some yard work or playing with the kids, sports drinks aren't necessary.

These easy ways to stay hydrated will help minimize the strain on your body this summer.

Sources

Personal Experience

Beat The Heat -- Stay Hydrated!
Julie Redfern, L.D., R.D.N., and Michelle McAndrews
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Hydration Checklist
The Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness