It’s no secret that hydration comes with many perks. From infection prevention and body temperature regulation, to better sleep and improved cognition, sufficient hydration is critical to your everyday wellbeing.
For some, staying hydrated can seem like a simple task. For others, it’s difficult to find ways to stay hydrated during all months of the year (not just summer when it’s hot!)
Check out these three hydration hacks to help you stay on track and stay healthy:
Water
Seems like a no-brainer, right? Water is the easiest, quickest and most affordable way to stay hydrated. The amount of water you should drink varies on gender, age, etc., but a common rule of thumb is to drink eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day. To get more specific, according to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men should drink about 15.5 cups of fluid per day and women should drink about 11.5 cups of fluid per day. Doing this should allow you to reap the many benefits of hydration.
The problem is, you may not find plain water to be as refreshing as others. That’s OK, there’s plenty of ways to still receive the same benefits of water while adding a kick to it. There are several ways to take your water up a notch: from lemon and cucumber water to herbs like basil and lavender, discover a concoction that works for you. You could even try sparkling or carbonated water to quench your thirst and leave you satisfied.
Electrolytes
Sweating causes a loss of sodium. After exercising, replenishing these nutrients is key to rehydrating, especially after a workout or physical activity. However, don’t overdue it on the electrolytes. For hydration purposes, try to stick to drinks with electrolytes in them after post-exercise activities only.
Hydrating foods
So you drink water and get your electrolytes, but still want to improve your hydration? Try adding hydrating foods into your diet. Some examples include cucumbers, zucchini, watermelon, celery, carrots, radishes, kiwis, peaches and more. Who’s hungry?
If your goal this year was to pay more attention to your hydration and water intake, these hydration hacks will help you get there.
