As the weather heats up outside and your daily sweat sesh at Bloom heats you up as well, staying hydrated is key to overall good health and your body functioning properly.
Did you know that drinking enough water can help with more than just dehydration though? It can also help you avoid things like muscle cramps, headaches and fatigue.
Water can also help you with clearer skin and well... who doesn't want that? Yes please!
While water is best for keeping you hydrated, there are other ways to get more hydration into your diet. Certain fruits & veggies have a higher water content... like lettuce, watermelon and tomatoes.
Other food & drinks can also hydrate you, but some end up adding unnecessary sugar and calories into your diet. Sport drinks can be helpful if you're planning to exercise for more than an hour because they contain electrolytes, but they also contain a LOT of sugar and sodium. Smart Water is a great alternative if you want to be "smarter" about getting electrolytes into your body, without the added calories.
Here's some ways to get more water into your daily diet if you find it difficult to drink enough:
Keep a reusable bottle of water with you and refill it throughout the day. We even have some cute ones in The Nest at the studio!
If you don't like the taste of plain water... add some lemon, lime, cucumber or mint leaves. Keep a big pitcher in the refrigerator that you can pour from throughout the day.
When you're feeling hungry, try drinking water first to see if it helps. Our body can confuse hunger with dehydration. This can also be helpful for weight loss, since water can make you feel full too.
Set a water schedule on your phone as a reminder to drink up more often than just at mealtime. And if you're planning to workout that day too, prep for it with extra water prior to and after your class.
Grab an orange for a post workout snack. In fact, it's lower in calories than drinking a glass of orange juice AND you get some added fiber too. Win-win.
What are some some ways you stay hydrated during the summer? How do you make sure you're getting enough water? We'd love to hear your comments and suggestions!