Summer is just around the corner, meaning it’s that much more important to stay hydrated. Here are some tips and tricks to help out.
- Try to drink at least 8 glasses of pure, clean water every day—but not with meals so as not to dilute your digestive juices.
- Make drinking water a daily habit. When it’s hot out or you’re ill, take in even more water—two to three glasses more than usual.
- Exercise will increase your need for fluids. Make sure to drink water before and during your workouts. This will help reduce body temperature, moderate stress in muscles and improve performance.
- Feeling thirsty or experiencing dry mouth, flushed skin, fatigue, or head-ache can all be signs of dehydration. Hydrate the body with some water.
- If you don’t like plain water, try adding lemon, lime, or fruit juice for flavor.
- Eat hydrating foods such as watermelon or make your own fresh fruit ice lollies with a little crushed fruit diluted with water. Check out our recipe for Watermelon Ice Lollies on the kids pages.
- To increase your fluid intake, enjoy a few pieces of vegetables or fruit a day, as well as some homemade vegetable soup.
- Heat and dehydration can affect children most. Remind kids and younger siblings to drink water throughout the day. Adding a bit of juice to water can help them make the switch from the unhealthier drinks.
- Research shows milk is better than water and sports drinks for rehydration and recovery after exercise. Just be sure to choose a slimmed-down carton since the fat in whole milk can delay fluid replacement.
- When travelling, stay hydrated by drinking lots and avoiding salty foods.
