Get That Summer Glow! Stay Hydrated Through a Healthy Seasonal Diet, Summer Edition

Summer is the perfect season to reacquaint yourself with some good hydrating habits. On these hot and humid days, you may find reprieve with a nice dip in the pool or by floating down a lazy river. While it’s easy to bring ourselves to relax oceanside with a nice cold Pina Colada, it is also necessary to make sure we are staying on top of the H2O with proper hydration and diet.

If you spend any amount of time outside in the summer, you may notice that you tend to sweat more. When you sweat more, you are losing not only water but also electrolytes. By not replenishing fluids and electrolytes, your body can overheat and dehydration can set in.

Staying on top of hydration is not something you should just worry about in the summer. Having good habits all year round is imperative to maintaining optimal health. Water makes up the majority of our body weight and it is involved in so many different functions in your body. It helps to flush out waste, maintain proper brain function and so much more.

In addition to ensuring you are drinking enough water throughout the day, there are many fruits and vegetables that contain high water content and other key nutrients to keep you going. The majority of these hydrating foods you most likely already have in your fridge, making them an easily accessible addition to your daily hydration routine.

• Watermelon is one of the most hydrating fruits as its water content is 92%. Watermelon also contains vitamins C and A.
• Cucumber beats out watermelon when it comes to water content with an impressive 96%. If you keep the skin on, you will also reap the benefit of some gut-friendly fiber.
• Lettuce is a great alternative to a burger bun or just to have as a salad. Romaine lettuce is 95% water which makes it a perfect hydrating food.
• Strawberries pack a punch of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and are made of 91% water, plus they are absolutely delicious.

Eating more hydrating foods is only one part of the diet equation. Dehydration does not always mean that you are not drinking (or eating) enough water. Dehydration can also occur if you eat or drink certain foods and beverages that have a diuretic effect (remember that Pina Colada). To ensure that you are properly hydrated, you should exercise caution with these foods and drinks that cause dehydration, especially when it’s particularly hot out.

• Soda might seem refreshing on a hot day, but the sugar in soft drinks can actually draw water out of your tissues and deplete your body of fluids.
• Energy drinks often do more harm than good as they have been found to have fluid-robbing effects and can also cause gastrointestinal distress.
• Alcohol should be no surprise that it made it on this list. Alcohol is a natural diuretic and causes your body to squeeze water from your cells. If you are going to drink alcohol on a nice summer day, be sure to drink plenty of water as well.
• Cured meats are a great picnic idea but they are very dehydrating due to the salt and sugar levels. They basically will suck the water right out of you.
• Fried foods are a hidden source of salt. That side of fries loaded with sugary ketchup is the ultimate dehydrating duo.
• Salty snacks most likely make it into your beach bag every trip. Mindlessly munching on chips and popcorn can really mess with your hydration levels.

With temperatures rising and summer on the horizon, there is no better time than now to start thinking about ways to stay hydrated. IV hydration is a great option to add to your regimen to make sure that you stay on top of your fluid intake. Call today to schedule a free consultation to find out more about how IV hydration therapy can help you feel your best this summer.

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