Ah, summertime! This carefree time of year is not always so carefree if you forgot the most basic survival tips that can keep you healthy and feeling good.
Here we look at some hydration hints for your health and the health of your whole family!
You have left home for a day at the beach, a picnic with friends or a long awaited hike into the woods. Or perhaps you plan to visit the local wildlife park or amusement park with the kids. As you head out on your adventure you realize that you have packed all of the essentials such as hats, sun block, healthy snacks, sunglasses, the first aid kit and a change of clothes but you have forgotten one important thing- your water bottle. Uh oh! Should you:
A. Not worry about it and just get on with your plans?
B. Turn the car around and go back to get it?
If you answered B then you would be doing the right thing for your health and well-being. While it may seem inconvenient and may slow you down being without water is not very smart. This is especially the case during the warmer months and when you are doing physical activity of any kind. Plus you want to teach your children to be smart about their health.
Consuming enough fluids is important when the sun is beating down on you and when you are exerting yourself. Water is the number one beverage for your health. It keeps you hydrated and provides your body with what it needs to work its best. Drink in the range of six to eight glasses of water daily. When the weather is hot you need to increase your water intake. The same can be said when you exercise, or when you encounter low humidity or high altitude.
If you decide to go for a long walk or hike without a full water bottle accompanying you then you have a greater potential of getting headaches, becoming overly tired and exhausted and feeling cranky. This is not the way to enjoy the summertime!
Drink even when you do not feel thirsty. Thirst is a sign that you have become dehydrated. If your urine is dark yellow then you are not drinking enough water. If it is only slightly yellow or almost clear then that is a good indication that your fluid consumption is where it should be.
Juices and sports drinks can help you to get the water content you need but are not the best choice if you are watching your weight. Some of these drinks are high in calories and contain too much sugar.
According to the United States National Research Council every calorie you take in should be matched with one mililiter of water. Think of it this way – 2,000 calories of food would need to be matched by drinking 3,000 mililiters of water.
Here’s a drink to your health – and I’m lifting water!
Becca
Alternative Health for Today 