All year round it is important to stay hydrated, especially in these summer months when the temperatures start to climb! The question that is always asked is: “How much water am I supposed to drink?” That is one of the hardest questions to answer because it is dependent on many different factors such as age, gender, activity level, etc. A good suggestion would be to drink between 2 and 3 liters of water a day to keep your body properly fueled.

Our body is made up of over 60% water and uses that water for many daily functions like maintaining body temperature, flushing out waste, lubricating joints and protecting sensitive tissues. Hydration is extremely important to your overall well- being and many people underestimate its importance in balancing the body’s systems regardless of daily activity levels.

Sign or Symptoms of Dehydration:

- Headache

- Extreme thirst

- Less urine than usual and a darker hue

- Lightheaded or dizzy

The benefits of hydrating your body range from healthier skin teeth, bones and joints to assisting in weight loss. Therefore, focus on drinking water because

Tips on ways to increase your water intake:

- Eat hydrating, water based foods like cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, green peppers, lettuce, spinach, watermelon, peaches, strawberries, grapefruit or cantaloupe that are all over 90% water.

- Get a large reusable water bottle that will encourage you to drink water whenever or wherever you are.

- Use an alarm on your phone, computer or watch to remind you to be drinking water every hour.

- Create a log of the water you drink daily, this will help you keep track of your daily water intake to see if you are getting enough or too little.

Tess Zasuwa | Health Solution Intern
tess.zasuwa@kapnick.com