Staying properly hydrated in the summer months can be much trickier than in the other seasons, mostly because with the higher temperatures, our bodies are losing fluid in the form of sweat. Since we need to replace the fluid lost by sweating, our hydration needs tend to be higher in the hotter months.

Why is important to keep your body hydrated? It's important for several reasons, including body temperature stability, bowel regularity, reduced kidney stone risk, and filtering waste products, just to name a few. So this week, Lindyspring Systems offers you some information on the signs of dehydration to watch for, as well as some tips to help keep your body hydrated throughout the hot summer days.

Signs of Dehydration

Most of us associate dehydration with muscle cramps, fatigue, and extreme thirst. While these are signs of dehydration, that's not the worst of it. If we don’t keep up with our water intake, especially in hot weather or while exercising, our thinking and cognition can suffer. Just a 2% reduction in body water weight can lead to problems with short-term memory, attention, and visual-motor tracking.

Other signs that you may be dehydrated include loss of appetite, dry mouth, mild constipation, and temporary lightheadedness. A good measurement of your level of hydration is the color of your urine. Pale urine indicates adequate hydration while darker colored urine is a sign that your body needs more fluids immediately.

Tips for Staying Hydrated

We know how important hydration is to our health, but the question remains, how do we increase our water intake without feeling waterlogged or sprinting to the bathroom every five minutes? Here are a few simple tips to keep you hydrated.
2. Infuse with flavor.
Whether you prefer limes, lemons, oranges, berries, or cucumbers, infusing your water with fresh fruit can make for a refreshing and spa-like beverage, without any added artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Not only will it give your water a little flavor to help with soda or juice cravings, you'll be more likely to drink more of it.

3. Eat your way to hydration.
The good news is that only 70-80% of your daily hydration needs to come from water; 20-30% should actually come from food! All whole fruits and vegetables contain some amount of water, so snacking on something like watermelon, cucumbers or tomatoes can help make up some of the water your body needs.

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day to enjoy the outdoors doing all the things you love! But as the temperatures rise this summer, you need to be sure to pay close attention to one important aspect of your health: your hydration. So this week, Lindyspring Systems offers you some information on the signs of dehydration to watch for, as well as some tips to help keep your body hydrated throughout the hot summer days.

Signs of Dehydration

Most of us associate dehydration with muscle cramps, fatigue, and extreme thirst. While these are signs of dehydration, that's not the worst of it. If we don’t keep up with our water intake, especially in hot weather or while exercising, our thinking and cognition can suffer. Just a 2% reduction in body water weight can lead to problems with short-term memory, attention, and visual-motor tracking.

Other signs that you may be dehydrated include loss of appetite, dry mouth, mild constipation, and temporary lightheadedness. A good measurement of your level of hydration is the color of your urine. Pale urine indicates adequate hydration while darker colored urine is a sign that your body needs more fluids immediately.

Tips for Staying Hydrated

We know how important hydration is to our health, but the question remains, how do we increase our water intake without feeling water-logged or sprinting to the bathroom every five minutes? Here are a few simple tips to keep you hydrated.
2. Infuse with flavor - Whether you prefer limes, lemons, oranges, berries, or cucumbers, infusing your water with fresh fruit can make for a refreshing and spa-like beverage, without any added artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Not only will it give your water a little flavor to help with soda or juice cravings, you'll be more likely to drink more of it.

3. Eat your way to hydration - The good news is that only 70-80% of your daily hydration needs to come from water; 20-30% should actually come from food! All whole fruits and vegetables contain some amount of water, so snacking on something like watermelon, cucumbers or tomatoes can help make up some of the water your body needs.

One of the most important things you can do for yourself to improve your health is to drink plenty of water. It's even been said that drinking water is a natural elixir of life. But with all the hectic tasks of daily life and the fact that water is virtually tasteless, sometimes it's difficult to motivate yourself to drink the recommended daily amount. So, this week, Lindyspring Systems is offering 5 clever ways to get yourself to drink more water.

1. Add Some Flavor
Meeting the recommended daily intake of water each day can seem like torture when every cup is tasteless. Add a bit of flavor by infusing fresh fruit, veggies, and/or herbs to your water. If you're on the run and don't have time to prepare an infused drink, you can also get the grab and go flavor packets from your local grocer and throw a few in your bag so you've got them with you wherever you go.

2. Sip Before Each Meal

Drinking 16 oz. of water before meals can help you lose weight. It helps to fill your stomach, making you feel fuller so you eat less during mealtimes. Just knowing that drinking up can help you eat less should be enough motivation to grab a glass. So next time you sit down for lunch with friends or co-workers, drink a glass of water before your server takes your order.

3. Use an App to Remind You

It's noon. How many glasses of water have you had so far? It's easy to lose track, especially when you're so busy at work and with other daily life activities. And unfortunately if you're not keeping track, you're risking the chance of dehydration. Keeping up with how many glasses you’ve finished can be easy with the help of a free app. Download a free water intake tracker app to your phone to keep track of how much water you've had. If you're not into downloading apps, you can always set a few alerts on your phone throughout the day to remind yourself to hit the water cooler.

4. Eat Water-Rich Foods

One sneaky way to increase the amount of water you consume on a daily basis is to eat foods that are water-rich. Add fruits and vegetables with a high water content to your grocery shopping list, such as cucumber, zucchini, watermelon, celery, and grapefruit. Not only will you be improving your health by eating your daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies, but you'll also be increasing your daily water intake without even thinking about it!