3 Hydration Hacks to Beat the Heat
Across the globe in 2019, we were setting heat-wave records before summer even came. We had the third-warmest January and the second-warmest April of all times, according to NOAA and NASA. That means we’re in for a brutal summer. With that being said, don’t sweat the heat. Here are three hacks to help you combat summer with a smile.
1 ELECTROLYTES SAVE LIVES
An electrolyte is something that conducts electricity when dissolved in water – sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, to name a few. An electrolyte is also essential to staying alive (if you’re a human, that is). In fact, many of your body’s day-to-day functions require small electric currents to run properly, and electrolytes aid in this. Without them, you risk dehydration, which can cause muscle cramps, fatigue, and impaired athletic performance.
So how does that help keep you hydrated? Well, electrolytes keep your bodily fluids balanced both inside and outside your cells. When you sweat (which is all the time, if you’re anything like me), you lose water and essential nutrients through it. Making sure you consume electrolytes before summer activities, from running errands in the heat to going for a job, is at the utmost importance.
PRO TIP: You can find many electrolytes in sports drinks, or you can just add a pinch of salt to your water for an added hydration boost.
2 REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES
Being prepared before venturing out into the heat is ideal. But sometimes, we don’t have the time. Life is spontaneous and we often find ourselves going where the wind takes us, especially on summer vacations. There’s a simple way to make sure you set yourself up for success, and that is keeping a reusable water bottle on you at all times.
This is a simple, yet effective, life hack for those who live in hotter climates, or for those who are prone to dehydration. Nowadays, there are so many choices for water bottles, with the Hydro Flask craze of 2017 and the BPA-free movement of the 2000s. A simple Google search lends you to thousands of options. Purchasing foldable or collapsible water bottles (like these!) to keep in all sorts of different places – your car’s console, your purse, your backpack, your office – means you’ll never have an excuse not to hydrate. If you love your water cold, a double-walled, vacuum-insulated bottle is a great option to keep liquids chilled for up to 24 hours (here are a few great recommendations). When you keep a reusable water bottle with you, all you need is a clean, safe water source, like Primo® Water.
PRO TIP: Keep an electrolyte tablet (like these) at the bottom of your empty water bottle so those essential nutrients are ready and waiting when you need them most!
3 EAT YOUR HYDRATION
Who says you have to limit yourself to drinking water for hydration? In fact, there are many foods out there that are water-rich and can help give you the hydration boost you need to get through summer.
I know it’s a shocker, but watermelon is the first on this list of hydration food stations. Sitting at 92% water, this melon is a healthy way to consume your water. Just one cup contains a half cup of water, with an added bonus of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A and magnesium. At the same time, strawberries clock in at 91% water with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals aplenty (especially folate and manganese). Here’s a list of other water-dense foods with their percentages:
- Cantaloupe (90%)
- Oranges (88%)
- Skim milk (91%)
- Cucumber (95%)
- Broths (92%)
- Plain yogurt (88%)
- Cauliflower (92%)
So, be sure and stock up on all these yummy foods that are sure to help you stay hydrated in a more creative way.
PRO TIP: Incorporating some of these hydrating foods, like oranges, cucumbers and strawberries, into salads is a creative way to ramp up your hydration without even realizing it.
TAKE SUMMER SERIOUSLY
Summertime is branded with pool noodles, margaritas and beaches. But don’t forget that almost 700 people die yearly because of extreme heat. While you should be able to enjoy your fun in the sun, do it at your own discretion, and make sure to be on the lookout for dehydration warning signs, like fatigue, chapped lips, headaches, dizziness and more.
And while you’re taking summer seriously, make sure to take your water seriously, too. Drinking plain old H2O is the most sure-fire way to keep yourself hydrated, but not just any water will do. Taps can often be riddled with harmful bacteria and heavy metals, like lead, two things that certainly don’t aid with hydration. Instead, opt for Primo® Water.
We offer better, safer water thanks to our 5-step Reverse Osmosis (RO) purification system that gets rid of heavy metals, harmful microorganisms, trace pharmaceuticals and more. It’s water that’ll help kickstart healthy water-drinking habits, because bulk water users actually drink 25% more water on average. That means you’re 25% more likely to be hydrated, even when it’s a scorcher out there. So go ahead and be the big hit of your summer barbecue this year. That’s what we call The Primo Effect. Find Primo water near you and experience it for yourself.