As summer begins to peak the phrase “Wow, it’s hot” is not an unusual phrase to be heard numerous times a day. A simple walk from your house to the car or your backyard to the kitchen can result in you having to change your t-shirt or take a shower; especially in Florida. Besides feeling physically hot, do you find yourself feeling confused, dizzy, fatigued, extreme thirst, dry mouth, or lips? If yes, the answer may be that you are severely dehydrated and may not even know it! You must stay hydrated.
According to Medical News Today, “The human body is roughly 75 percent water. Without this water, it cannot survive. Water is found inside cells, within blood vessels, and between cells. A sophisticated water management system keeps our water levels balanced, and our thirst mechanism tells us when we need to increase fluid intake”. Staying hydrated also has the added benefit of assisting with burning calories, it is a natural hunger suppressant and is necessary to burn fat.
Here are 3 tips to stay hydrated during the summer months:
Know Your Daily Required Intake
We all know the time old adage of “Drink 8 cups of water per day”, but what does modern science recommend? An article from Healthline states that “The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that men drink at least 101 ounces of water per day, which is a little under 13 cups. They say women should drink at least 74 ounces, which is a little over 9 cups.” This appears to be a lot higher than the 8 cups per day saying. It is known that 8 cups a day is a good baseline, but to achieve the maximum benefits of water intake, you must make a conscious decision to do so.
Carry A Reusable Water Bottle
There are a few reasons why this tip is extremely important to stay hydrated. Firstly, we live a busy lifestyle. Although the summer of 2020 may be a bit different in terms of hustle and bustle around town, the idea still remains the same. We are constantly distracted and busy with daily tasks and we simply forget to drink water. By investing in a reusable water bottle, we not only have the added benefit of having a readily available container to store water at home or on the go, but we also know how much water we have at any given time. Many, if not all, of today’s reusable bottles, state how much water they carry and some even have measurement lines for you to see your progress throughout the day. This way you can keep track of your daily required intake. Oh, did we mention that you are also saving the environment by not using plastic bottles!
Set A Reminder
“Honestly, I forgot.” Hey, we get it! Life gets in the way of many things, but there is a solution to it all. In the same way that you set an alarm to wake up, or a timer for roasted vegetables in the oven, you can set one to drink water. If you eat 3 meals a day and have a 16oz glass of water (2 cups) at each meal, you are already at 48 oz for the day. Combine that with 3 alarms on your phone or computer and you’ll already be at 96 oz for the day! Setting an alarm is easy to do and a great way to ensure that you are receiving all of the benefits of staying hydrated throughout the day.
By breaking your goal into smaller, more manageable tasks you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to stay hydrated. No one is asking you to drink 300 oz (37 cups) of water a day like Tom Brady, but starting the process is what counts. Staying hydrated is just one of the many achievements that will contribute to your overall wellness and ultimately weight loss.
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