Stay Hydrated Summer

As the summer season arrives in full force in the subcontinent, the best thing you can do to beat the heat is to stay hydrated.

Your body depends on water for survival.  After all, it makes up more than half of our body weight and every organ in the body needs water to function. Don’t wait for symptoms of dehydration like extreme thirst, dry mouth, and headache to act.

Heed the following tips to stay hydrated this summer season.

Don’t wait to get thirsty this summer. The fact is that by the time your mouth is dry, you’re well on your way to dehydration. As water is the best natural drink available, guzzle at least 

2  litres a day.

• Be sensible about the amount of water you drink. If you are exercising or going out in the hot sun you will need to drink more water.
• Make drinking water a mindless habit. Let it be part of your early morning routine.  Keep a bottle within easy reach while you are relaxing in front of the television or working on the computer. Take regular sips even if you are not feeling thirsty. Drink a glass of water before every meal.
• Eating water-based foods is a great way to supplement your water intake and stay hydrated. Eat fruits like watermelon and pineapple rather than drinking the juice. They are cooling and perfect for hot summer days. They have high water content and are rich in minerals. Another perfect fruit for summer months is the apricot as it is good for fluid retention. Honeydew melon, commonly known as muskmelon cools the body so gorge on it. The vitamin C and minerals present in these fruits are an added benefit.
• Munch on cucumbers and tomatoes.  These foods have more than 90% of their weight in water content.
• In summer we sweat more and lose essential minerals from our bodies. Cucumbers are a cool way to put the potassium back and they also contain ascorbic and caffeic acids, compounds that help us stay hydrated because of their moisture retaining properties.
• Fresh citrus fruits such as orange, grapefruits, lemon and lime are excellent as they not only hydrate the body but also provide valuable nutrients.
• Take a break from coffee this summer and sip the benefits of green tea. Enjoy it with lemon, as it will keep the body from retaining water. Herbal iced teas are also great thirst quenchers. Be adventurous and mix and match flavours.
• Enjoy the miracle of tender coconut water. It hydrates perfectly as it has the exact proportion of electrolytes as human cells and plasma. It also contains a host of vitamins and minerals.