It’s the peak of summer time and that means you are more at risk of becoming dehydrated, especially here in Texas! Dehydration can cause serious problems to your body. These problems can include dizziness, headaches, digestion problems, mood changes, memory issues, and how well you are able to process information. Dehydration can also be serious enough that you need to go to the hospital. This is why staying hydrated all year long, but especially in the summer, is extremely important.
So how much water should you drink each day? Your body needs 11.5 cups of water for women each day, and 15.5 cups of water for men each day. That may seem like a lot, but these amounts also include water that you get from the foods you eat. About 20% of the fluid we consume comes from food. So this leaves 9 cups for women and 13 cups for men that you should be consuming from beverages, including mostly water. You can meet these requirements by drinking water throughout the day and eating foods that have a high water content such as fruits and vegetables.
This summer try some of the tips below to make sure you are staying hydrated while enjoying all of your favorite summer activities!
- Keep a reusable water bottle with you all the time
- Choose water instead of sugary drinks like soda, juice, or energy drinks
- Listen to your body, drink when you are thirsty
- Add some fun flavors to your water such as lemon juice, cucumber slices, or fruits
- Eat foods high in water content:
- Melons
- Strawberries, oranges, pineapples, grapes, pears
- Yogurt
- Lettuce, celery, cabbage, carrots
If you would like some fun flavored water ideas, check out some recipes here!