Flood your system: Drinking coconut water or eating watermelons are fun ways to stay hydrated in summertime

NT Features

Summer is back with a vengeance and temperatures are on the rise in the city.

S u m m e r t i m e o f t e n means trips to the beach or local pool, outdoor concerts and BBQs. While having fun outside, it’s important that you stay hydrated. When you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t have enough fluid and electrolytes to work properly. Electrolytes are minerals in your body like sodium, calcium and potassium. They’re found in the foods you eat and the fluids you drink.

Water is one of the most important elements for all living things. Up to 60 percent of the human adult body is made of water. It’s essential for the body to stay hydrated. But being hydrated doesn’t only mean drinking water. Drinking coconut water, eating water melon or other foods are fun ways to stay hydrated in summertime.

Eat fruits and veggies
Fruits and certain vegetables contain a lot of water and will keep you hydrated while you’re in the sun. Watermelon, lettuce, grapes and other fruits and non-starchy veggies are good choices to keep dehydration from sneaking up on you in the summer. Eat more of these foods every day while also drinking plenty of fluids.

Sip on smoothies
Maybe you don’t want to eat a bunch of fruit and vegetables every day. That’s okay – drink them instead. Making fruit and green smoothies is a great way to get your daily allowance of vitamins and minerals while also increasing your hydration levels. Not only are you adding hydrating fruits to the smoothie but also plenty of ice. Not only will the smoothie taste great and hydrate you, it will also regulate your body temperature. If you’re worn out from being in the sun all day, a fruit smoothie will help you to feel like a normal person again.

Drink plain coconut water
Coconuts contain a lot of potassium and electrolytes to help keep you hydrated. It’s good for relieving muscle aches and cramps and doesn’t contain any fat. It does, however, contain a lot of calories, so you might not want to substitute coconut water for regular water. If you plan to drink coconut water, buy the plain kind. Some coconut waters come with additional flavouring or added sugars.

Oatmeal for breakfast
Start the day with a bowl of oatmeal. Oats expand as they absorb water, so you’re not only getting a good meal but also plenty of fluids. If you add blueberries or strawberries, you’ll get even more water just by eating your oatmeal. Don’t like fruit in your oatmeal? Try chia seeds. They also soak up water and will help to keep you full until lunch.

Iced tea and coffee
Trying iced coffee caffeine-free is always a great option. You may be surprised to know that coffee counts as part of your daily fluid intake. In fact, about 98 percent of your morning cup of coffee is water. And try iced tea. There are many types of tea white, black, green and oolong and flavours to choose from. In general, tea has about half the amount of caffeine as coffee. There are also herbal and fruit teas that are caffeine-free.