Feel stronger, healthier & more powerful this summer by staying hydrated.
All month long in July, we will be touching on many health and wellness exercises and treatments that can help to make you a healthier, more powerful individual―both physically and mentally. While many of the articles we are going to be featuring will teach you how to stimulate your mood, your wellness and your mind, there is one vital factor that we feel it is important to cover first: hydration.
Without proper hydration, no matter how much you work out or how positive you may want to feel, your body will not be able to achieve the healthy, powerful results that you are looking for. This is because the human brain is made up 75% from liquid and requires constant rehydration and fluids. Therefore, even the slightest amount of dehydration can cause a person to feel lazy, sluggish, unmotivated and tired.
Staying hydrated is even more important and difficult during the summer months. When you combine the heat from the sun with fun summer activities such as hiking, swimming, walking and gardening, it can result in dangerous heat-related problems and an extreme loss in bodily fluids.
Why Is Water Important to Our Health?
Every single cell in the body requires constant water in order to function correctly. Just 10 minutes out in the hot summer sun can lead to sweating, a dry mouth and a feeling of thirst, which are all signs that your body is already dehydrated.
Also, not only does staying hydrated play a vital role in your cognitive performance and general well being, but it can be a helpful factor in maintaining and losing weight. This is because water helps carry out the toxins in your body which, in turn, increases your metabolism and causes you to feel full.
How to Stay Hydrated in the Summer
So, now that you know all about the positive benefits of staying hydrated in the summer, how can you ensure that your body stays stronger and healthier through the warm weeks ahead? There are several things you can do to ensure that your body gets the correct amount of water that it needs to function properly:
Drink lots of Fluids: Obviously the most efficient way to get a large amount of water back into your body is to drink water. Doctors recommend that the average person drinks at least eight cups of water a day, but each body type needs a different about of hydration. To find out how much water your body needs daily, divide your body weight by 2 and that will determine the number of ounces needed.
Water is not the only fluid source that can help you stay hydrated; juice, skim milk and sports drinks are all great ways to increase the amount of water in your body. If you don’t like drinking plain water, you could also try adding certain elements to change the taste―Lemon is a beneficial add-in that helps keep your liver healthy. Also try adding flavors such as mint, citrus fruits, cucumber, or strawberries for a different taste with the same hydration levels. However, be sure to avoid alcohol, caffeinated and sugar-filled drinks, as these can ask as a diuretic and actually may cause you to lose more fluid than you are consuming.
Eat Hydrating Foods: Often times, water-rich foods can help supplement your water intake better than just drinking water by itself. Many fruits such as watermelon and cantaloupe can help to greatly replenish the amount of water in your body. Vegetables such as celery and cucumber are also very helpful when avoiding dehydration.
No water what your favorite summer activities are―working out, swimming, walking outside, laying out in the sun―it is important that you stay cool and avoid overexertion during hot summer weather. Making simple changes in your water intake can help you to remain healthy, strong and fit all summer long.
