Hello Summer! Hello Warmer Temps! And HELLO HYDRATION!
Aside from the air we breathe, water is the most essential element to human survival. Approximately 60% of the human adult body is made up of water, and drinking water is more important than eating. In fact, a person can live about a month without food, but only 3-4 days without water. Moral of the story? Drink Up!
With hotter temperatures, it is even more crucial to stay hydrated. When it’s hot outside, we are more likely to perspire and lose water through our sweat, putting us at a greater risk for dehydration. We know drinking water is important, but do you know the other ways you can help your body stay hydrated?
Additional Ways to Rehydrate:
Fruits and Vegetables – incorporating water-rich fruits and vegetables into your diet gives you an easy way to add more water content without drinking more fluids.
- Cucumber – 96% water
- Celery – 95% water
- Tomatoes – 94% water
- Asparagus – 93% water
- Spinach – 91% water
- Cantaloupe, peaches, carrots, bananas – 75-90% water
Coffee and Tea – While caffeine is a diuretic (something that increases urine production), you do retain most of the water from the beverage. In other words, you won’t lose more fluid through urine than you take in by drinking a caffeinated beverage.
Milk & Juice – There are several beverages that have just as high (if not higher) of a hydration index (how much of a drink is retained 2 hours after consumption) as water. Those include – Pedialyte, fat-free milk, whole milk, and orange juice. Some of these, like OJ, have a higher calorie count and sugar content, so drink cautiously.
Smoothies – Many smoothies include water, juice, fruits and vegetables. If you add high-water content fruits and vegetables to your recipe, you can create a SUPER DRINK full of hydrating ingredients!!
If you are feeling thirsty, you’ve likely already lost 1% of your body’s total water content. So, drink up, buttercup! For more information on hydration, contact the Functional Pathways Therapy Team!
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