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Beat the Heat: How to Stay Hydrated

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Proper hydration is absolutely essential for our overall health. Our bodies are about 60% water and the water we consume optimizes blood pressure, regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, moves waste out of the body, and aids in digestion.

 

Proper hydration is especially important during the hot and humid days of summer when our bodies lose water quicker and must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Dehydration can be dangerous and cause muscle cramps, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and fainting. Older adults and young children, in particular, are susceptible to dehydration.

 

Recommendations vary depending on weight, age, and activity level, but a general guideline for how much water you should drink is 8, 8-ounce glasses each day. Another guideline is to divide your weight by 2 and drink that number in ounces. For example, a 150-pound person would need 75 ounces (150/2) of water per day. You should talk to your doctor to be sure that you’re drinking the right amount of water for your body type and your activity level.

 

Here are some more tips to help you stay hydrated:

 

One foolproof way to tell if you’re hydrated: urine color. An optimal lemonade-color is a sign of proper hydration. If it looks dark, like iced tea or apple juice, you’re not drinking enough water.

 

Don’t rely on thirst alone. Thirst can be one measure of hydration but it’s not the first means of feedback, so rehydrate before you feel too thirsty.

 

Choose foods with high water content like cucumbers, berries, citrus, melon, greens, and tomatoes. You can eat these foods as a snack or incorporate them into your meals.

 

Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks as they act as a diuretic, pulling water from the body rather than replacing it.

 

Carry a reusable water bottle with you that you can easily refill with tap water. You’ll save money and help the environment by choosing tap over bottled water. And try adding fruit or herbs to your water for added flavor without added sugar.

 

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hydration

 

Summer

 

Beat the Heat: How to Stay Hydrated published first on medium.com/@OsmoWaterFilter

 

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Uploaded on June 18, 2018