Ever Find Yourself Struggling With Not Getting Enough Water?
It’s important to staying hydrated not just doing your workouts but through your whole day. Below are 3 easy tips to stay hydrated.
1-When you exercise you lose a lot water through sweating, which it is why it’s important to remember to stay well hydrated during your work outs and throughout your day. Dehydration has many effects on the body including cramps, fatigue, headaches and dizziness. Not a fan of plain old water? Try herbal tea (hot or cold), coconut water (which contains electrolytes, which you also sweat out during exercise) or try squeezing some lemon or lime into your water/coconut water for a little more flavor and an extra boost of Vitamin C.
2-Fruits and vegetables contain loads of water! Lettuce, spinach, cucumber, zucchini, broccoli, celery, peppers, watermelon and cantaloupe are all over 90% water. Snacking on fruits and veggies throughout the day is a great way to stay hydrated if you’re getting tired of drinking all that water. Apples, Carrots, green beans and oranges are easy hydrating snacks for on the go or at your desk and are rich in electrolytes. Salads with veggies and lean proteins are a good hydrating meal idea and super easy to make for lunch or dinner and are always easy to find on the go.
3-It’s important to remember that staying hydrated means watching out for the little things that dehydrate you like coffee, black teas, alcohol and energy drinks. When it comes to fruit and vegetable juices, even though they aren’t dehydrating, they contain loads of sugar and should be kept at a minimum (even the organic ones). So many people start their day with a big cup of coffee (me included!), when we wake up in the morning imagine yourself at a 0 for hydration. Even time you drink something hydrating give yourself a point but every time you drink something dehydrating take away a point. If you start your day with coffee you are already at -1, so it will take 2 cups of water to reach 1. Instead of having that second cup of coffee try having some hot water and lemon, it will hydrate you and the alkalinizing lemon will help combat the acidity of the coffee. Or even better try starting your day with a cup or 2 of hot water and lemon then have your morning cup of Joe. Lemon water is a great way to jump start your digestion, liver and immune system.
Written by: Sarah Stacey, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (R.H.N.), Vancity Health Consulting
