Did you know that anytime you lose even as little as 1.5 percent of your body’s water, you can feel symptoms of dehydration?
Water aids digestion, lubricates joints, makes saliva, balances chemicals, delivers oxygen, cushions bones, and regulates your body temperature. That’s why it’s so important to stay hydrated, particularly as we enter the summer months.
Here are some tips for staying properly hydrated:
- Keep a water bottle with you. Drink, refill, repeat!
- Choose water instead of sugary drinks.
- Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
- If you don’t like the taste of water, try adding flavor with fresh fruit.
- Eat more fruits and veggies—watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, peaches, cucumbers (also good sliced in water), leafy greens, celery, zucchini, tomatoes, and radishes.
- Try zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti noodles. They’re hydrating and healthy!
- Eat broth-based soups.
- Break out the popsicles! There are lots of healthy, low-sugar options.
- Use technology, such as free apps that track your water intake and remind you to drink throughout the day. Or set a timer that goes off each hour to remind you to take a drink.
As always, if you have conditions such as heart problems or kidney disease, talk with your doctor about how much fluid you should have daily.
