Staying hydrated is essential, especially during the summer. When the temperatures start to climb, and you’re out in the sun, you can dehydrate pretty quickly. This can lead to headaches, joint pain, and fatigue. The staff at Herbalife Nutrition shared some tips to stay hydrated during the summer and all year round.
Pay Attention to How Much You’re Drinking
The amount of water that you should be drinking each day really depends on your age, weight, and the amount of physical activity that you’ve gotten that day. If your body is under some amount of stress or physical activity, it makes sense to drink more fluids. If you’re sick, your body is going to need more fluid to get healthy again. Working out will also reduce the fluid in your body, so you’ll need to replace it in a healthy way for your body to function optimally. On an average day, eight eight-ounce glasses of water should suffice. You can increase this amount if you feel you’ve lost a lot of fluid for whatever reason.
Replenish Electrolytes
Consuming water is really important, but putting electrolytes back into your body is also a great idea. Electrolytes are responsible for things like heart rate and nervous system function. The four electrolytes that your body needs include calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. You can replenish these electrolytes with a natural additive in your water or a healthy electrolyte drink. This is especially helpful if you’ve been sweating a lot because of the heat or physical activity.
Sports Drinks versus Plain Water
If you have to replace your electrolytes during an intense workout, you can consume a sports drink. There are also several electrolyte drops that you can add to your water that won’t add sugar or other additives. Sports drinks are okay in moderation, but they typically contain lots of sugar. Regularly consuming this amount of sugar isn’t healthy for the body if you don’t spend them as energy. It’s a good idea to stick with regular water to stay hydrated. If you want to switch things up a bit, you can opt for sparkling water or seltzer.
What to Watch Out For
It’s good to know the signs of dehydration so you can quickly replenish your fluids if you notice any of these symptoms creeping up. Dark urine is one of the most common signs of dehydration. You should also keep an eye out for headaches, dry mouth, heart palpitations, bad breath, a drop in blood pressure, and constipation. If you feel your hydration levels are dangerously low because you can’t keep fluids down, it might be time to seek medical attention.
If you’re looking for a community that will help with your focus on a healthy lifestyle and optimal hydration, Herbalife can help. One of the company’s primary goals is to educate and inspire people through nutrition and hydration. You can look and feel your best by paying attention to what you put into your body and how you take care of yourself.
