{"id":208518,"date":"2016-07-27T22:59:46","date_gmt":"2016-07-28T02:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1.tempurl.host\/?p=208518"},"modified":"2018-09-07T13:20:58","modified_gmt":"2018-09-07T17:20:58","slug":"stay-hydrated-summer-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thegraphicgeek.com\/demo-cflwire\/stay-hydrated-summer-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Hydrated In The Summer Heat"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been alive lately and have been outside, or in a car, or pretty much anywhere<\/a>\u00a0in the United States, you know that IT IS HOT. With temperatures reaching into the 90’s and heat indexes well over 100\u00b0F, not to mention the high humidity percentages, this summer has been boiling.<\/p>\n

So this article should be a no-brainer \u2013 DRINK FLUIDS or dehydration will easily ensue. Momma always chided us, \u201cDrink eight glasses of water a day!\u201d Right? \u201cBut I don\u2019t want\/like drinking all that water!\u201d Maybe it\u2019s not as bad as you think.<\/p>\n

First off, hydration<\/a>\u00a0is \u201cthe condition of having adequate fluid in the body tissues<\/a>.\u201d Your body is made up of about 70% water. Taking that into account – plus the fact that a large number of bodily functions<\/a>\u00a0(such as toxin removal, nutrient shuttling, and softening of certain tissues) rely heavily on water \u2013 it\u2019s safe to say that you have to get your fluids in. The problem is, hot summer months like these cause keeping those fluids in your body seemingly impossible, not to mention how much sodium<\/a>\u00a0you\u2019re losing in the sweating process.<\/p>\n

Secondly, dehydration is not a condition that should be ignored. Even being mildly dehydrated can affect the body\u2019s normal functions, causing tiredness<\/a>\u00a0and other physiological complications. Being out in the heat and sweating profusely with little replenishment of fluids can also lead to worse issues. Heat exhaustion<\/a>\u00a0is dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue, and other symptoms caused by heat exposure<\/a> and water or salt depletion in the body. Heat stroke<\/a>\u00a0occurs when heat exhaustion<\/a> worsens into a medical emergency.<\/p>\n

Though the commonly repeated line is \u201c8×8\u201d (eight 8oz glasses of water per day) some research\u00a0shows that this rule may only be partially valid. WebMD<\/a>\u00a0states the one-half ounce to one ounce per pound of bodyweight of water per day will suffice. Those with sedentary lifestyles who live in cool environments would be closer to the half ounce end of the spectrum, with more active individuals living in hotter climates on the one-ounce end.<\/p>\n

If you weigh 150lbs and are active in this summer\u2019s heat, don\u2019t fret about the 18 \u00be cups of water recommendation you just received. Much of our intake of fluids<\/a>\u00a0comes from food (about 20% of total water intake). Another portion derives from sugared, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages, though ideally, this would be a minor portion of your total intake. It is recommended for those who are sweating frequently to include electrolyte beverages such as Gatorade or PowerAde to replenish losses of sodium and potassium.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re out and about in this heat, be smart. Keep fluids close by and cool off as often as possible. No one wants you melting away.