How to Stay Hydrated During a Hot Summer
Summer will likely encourage you to take many trips to the beach, attend outdoor concerts and festivals, or enjoy BBQs or al fresco dinners with your loved ones.
However, while sunny days can provide plenty of fun, you mustn’t forget to keep your body hydrated when temperatures climb. Otherwise, you may experience dehydration, heatstroke, or heat exhaustion.
Maintain a healthy, happy body by reading the below advice on how to stay hydrated during a hot summer.
Carry Water with You
Try to carry a water bottle with you when outdoors, which you can refill throughout the day. While the amount of water you will need to drink depends on your weight, activity levels, and medications, the rule of thumb is for women to consume 2.7 liters of water per day and 3.7 liters for men.
Eat Water-Rich Fruit & Vegetables
If you’re looking for a delicious snack that will hydrate your body during summer, add some water-rich fruit and vegetables to your plate.
The following produce will fill you up, provide your body with nutrients, and support hydration:
- Watermelon
- Berries
- Lettuce
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Grapefruit
- Peaches
Treat Yourself to a Glass of Iced Tea
A glass of ice-cold iced tea is a great beverage to drink on a hot summer’s day. It’s not only refreshing and will help cool you down, but many iced teas often contain less caffeine compared to coffee.
Plus, B.W Cooper’s Iced Tea provides a variety of delicious, quality teas to choose from to match your taste, such as raspberry tea, pomegranate tea, and even low cal, decaf iced teas. It’s a summery drink that will feel like a treat while hydrating your body.
Avoid Alcohol
You might love the idea of a cocktail or beer by the pool, at the beach, or at a garden party, but it will not hydrate your body. Alcohol is a diuretic and will dehydrate you even more during hot temperatures, which is why you must avoid it, especially during intense heat. If you can’t resist an alcoholic drink on a summer’s day, try to drink a non-alcoholic drink in between to rehydrate your body.
Eat a Cold Soup
A cold soup might not sound appetizing on a hot summer’s day, but it is one of the best foods you can eat in the sunshine. A broth-based soup is a great choice, as it’s full of water, as well as many nutrients.
Alternatively, you can eat gazpacho, that’s popular in Spain (which has a hot climate), as it’s full of water-rich produce, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions.
Monitor Your Activity Level
If you’re active throughout the day, you’ll need to increase your water intake to replace lost fluids. For example, if you complete a short bout of exercise, you might need to drink an extra 1.5 or 2.5 cups of water, but this will also depend on your activity level, exercise length, and how much you’ve perspired.
If you drink water throughout the day, consume drinks that count toward your fluid intake, and eat water-rich foods, you will hydrate your body, cool down your body temperature, and boost your energy levels.