Summer is here, and the hotter it gets, the more water your body needs. But the key to hydration is to have plenty of water in your system all the time. Here are some tips to keep you hydrated and healthy all year round.
Drink before you’re thirsty
By the time you feel thirsty, you body has lost up to five cups of water. Drinking water throughout is key to keeping hydrated.
Schedule drinking water
To keep drinking water throughout the day, setting reminders can help. Drink on a schedule – have a glass of water when you wake up, with all snacks and meals, and before you go to bed. Or have a small glass of water on the hour.
Grab a reusable water bottle
Keep a reusable Louisville pure tap® bottle with you and refill it throughout the day. Costing less than a penny for gallon, it the best value to stay hydrated.
Children heat up faster
Kids heat up faster than adults when the outside temperature is higher than their body temperature. Be sure to have plenty of water available for them when it’s hot.
Drink water when sweating
When you are sweating, your body is losing water. Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
Hunger vs thirst
If you feel hungry, it might mean that your body is thirsty. It’s easy to confuse being thirsty with hunger. Drinking water also flushes out by-products of fat breakdown, has zero calories, and helps raise your metabolism.
There are many benefits to drinking water, too. Dehydration is a common cause of headaches too so drinking water will help keep headaches at bay. Drinking water keeps skin moisturized and increases elasticity. Water regulates body temperature, keeps joints and muscles lubricated, and fights fatigue. It also helps prevent constipation, protects the body from viruses, and boosts the immune system.
How do you know if you are hydrated? Check the color of your urine. The more transparent it is, the more hydrated you are.