Are You Drinking Enough Water As the Summer Temperatures Rise?

Our family had an action packed outdoor weekend as we enter the summer season. A week and a half more of school to go was celebrated with the first visit to the pool this season. As I worked in the yard and then relaxed at the pool I was reminded of the many ways water is so important for us. We use it to grow food and plants, to cool off, to clean up, and our bodies must have it to survive. Because we use it so much we often take it for granted. How do we know when we are drinking enough?

As the temperatures rise our bodies need more water because we lose water as the body works to stay cool. This water loss is gradual and we may not notice thirst right away. So how do we know we are entering a “danger zone?” Dehydration can appear as hunger, thirst, lightheadedness, grogginess, weakness, and cramps. Since there are a variety of possible signs of dehydration one of the best ways to avoid it is to schedule regular water breaks throughout your day – grab a drink at least every hour.

I must admit, although I know how important drinking enough water is, I have a hard time remembering to drink it because I just don’t care for plain water. I prefer something with flavor and I don’t want to consume a lot of extra sugar in the process of meeting my water requirements. What to do? There are a variety of things that you can add to water in small amounts to tweak the flavor.

First thing in the morning I enjoy a splash of lemon in a glass of water. The citrus adds a zing to the flavor and is good for your immune system. Notice I said lemon juice and no sugar, we’re talking about lemon flavored water not lemonade. Another way I like to spice up my water is to add a touch of green tea. Green tea helps boost your metabolism so you get a little energy boost. Again I am talking about a dash of green tea to flavor the water, not an actual glass of tea. Finally, if you are being very active outside your body is losing electrolytes as you sweat so water with some electrolytes added can be valuable. Keep an eye out for excess sugar in some of those drinks – choose wisely.

How do you like to dress up your water as you are drinking your daily allowance? Would love to hear from you in the comments below.

Tagged as: Family Life, Family Living, Fitness, Healthy Eating, Healthy Living, Lose Weight, Summer, Water, Weight Loss