Staying Hydrated

Everybody knows that staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your health and your body. Keeping a good amount of water in your body keeps your heart pumping regularly, your muscles loose, your metabolism up, and can even prevent things like headaches. But how do you stay hydrated? Its simple: just drink!

But for some people, it might not be so easy. If you forget things easily, or if you’re a fairly busy person, you may find yourself at the end of the day, nearly empty of any water at all. If that’s you, here’s some tips on how to fuel up throughout the day: carry a water bottle with you throughout the day. (Remember to always look for the number on the plastic to identify what kind of plastic it is. #2, #4, and #5 are the safest in that order, and never get a bottle with BPA in it.) Set a time to drink water. When you eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, get out of work, go to bed, or any other time that will work best for you.

Do not attempt to hydrate yourself with anything other than water. Gatorade will not work, Powerade will not work, coffee will not work, iced tea will not work. Only water will keep your body going in these oncoming 100 degree summer beach days. But let’s just say you do all these things, you drink your 8 cups of water a day, you carry your BPA free water bottle, but how do you know if it’s actually working? The best way doctors say, is to check your urine. If it’s clear and pale, you’re good! But if it’s dark, just keep trying. Never give up; if you do, you’ll only be hurting yourself in the long run, trust me.

Another thing to remember, is that hydration is for everybody, not just athletes. But if you are an athlete, you have to be extra vigilant and careful with your hydration. Being extra active, especially underneath the sun, causes excessive sweating, which dehydrates you. Many doctors recommend drinking at least 10 cups a day during your athletic season. So during this hot summer, remember to drink plenty of water and remember to have fun too!