Natural & Healthy Ways to Stay Hydrated During All Seasons

Thirst combined with light-headiness and fatigue is the primary symptoms of dehydration. More than half of our body is made up of water and we use this for most of our bodily functions. When the summer heat soars, our sweat gland kicks into high gear. Proper hydration is necessary to stay out of the health risks. Speaking about hydration, the first thing comes into our mind is Drinking water. But there are more methods other than drinking water, that will help you stay hydrated.

Are You Dehydrated?

How to know you are dehydrated? Sadly, many people are severely dehydrated and don’t even know it. These are people, who have ignored their body symptoms for a long time. Dehydration is not just the feeling of thirst, but it even inhibits the blood supply rate and affects all bodily functions. The listed below are some symptoms of dehydration:

• Thirsty feeling
• Headache and fatigue
• Low energy
• Less urination
• Dark yellow or amber-colored urine
• Few or no tears

Perhaps most of us go through these symptoms daily but confuse it with hunger or thirst. Drinking water frequently is one of the common methods to tackle dehydration, but as you know, sometimes this could lead to over-hydration. So here are some methods that will help you stay hydrated this summer other than drinking water.

A Healthy Diet

A diet packed with lots of fluids is the best choice to beat the summer heat. Apart from just drinking water, you can add to your diet some fruits & veggies that contain more water. Following are some foods that could avoid summer dehydration.

Cucumber

This crispy cool, nutritionally dense vegetable contains 95% of water and is packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Magnesium, B-6, Pantothenic acid, Folate, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc and Silica. The high water content cleanses your body by removing waste materials. The magnesium content helps in blood circulation and thereby relaxing nerves and muscles.

Oranges

This sweet citrus fruit has no cholesterol and sodium. This is rich in potassium, a nutrient that’s very crucial in the summer. It also contains vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, Vitamin B-6 and nutrients like Magnesium, Calcium etc. Oranges also hold about 80% water, so a few juicy slices in those hot summer days will keep you hydrated. The presence of Beta Carotene in oranges can fight free radicals and protect your skin from all summer damages.

Watermelon

As the name suggest, this fruit is loaded with water of about 92%. Also known as the body-healing fruit, watermelon contains lycopene and other antioxidants that fight against free radical damages. Watermelon is also rich in Vitamin B, sodium, potassium and electrolytes, which are essential for a healthy body.

Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries)

Berries are considered as the super foods that help in anti-aging. These are also rich in water content and hence good for hydration. Among this strawberries (they’re 91% water) helps in having higher blood levels of  B vitamin folate that keeps the arteries clear. Raspberries and blueberries both contain around 85% water, while blackberries are slightly more with 88.2%.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a great way to stay hydrated throughout the sweaty summer days. It contains potassium and sodium, which can help you to replenish those electrolytes. It can also give you an instant cooling effect and are digested easily.

Celery and Green Leafy Veggies

Crunchy celery is 96% water, but it also is loaded with mineral salts, amino acids, and vitamins that neutralize the stomach acids and may hydrate the body twice as effectively as one glass of water. Other dark green veggies like Broccoli, spinach etc. also a perfect choice for hydration since they are most refreshing foods that are packed with water, vitamins, and nutrients.

Pomegranate

Pomegranates are a great hydrating source of antioxidants. They are also the most prolific source of polyphenols that helps in increased blood flow rate and protect your skin from sun damages.

Alternative Hydrating Drinks

Coconut Water

Nothing refreshes your body better than a glass of pure coconut water in these summer days. With its rich content of calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphate, the coconut water is one among the favorite natural sports drink around the world. It also prevents the loss of essential salts from our body with added benefits of high electrolytes and digestion promoting natural sugar content.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is an excellent replenishing drink that comes into our mind on those hot days. This coolant is a great source of Vitamin B12, Riboflavin, Potassium, calcium and phosphorus, which helps in reducing body heat. Buttermilk can also restore minerals that are lost through excessive sweating.

The above-mentioned are some adequate measures that can help you replenish the lost body fluids during summer. When the water content of your body decreases below the desired level, it leads dehydration. Ignoring this dangerous health hazard to a very long period can affect your complete bodily functions. It is best to avoid such a condition; so stay hydrated, stay healthy.