10 Jul Staying Hydrated During a Heat Wave

A heat wave is defined as a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather. For some states, they may experience a few days to a week of uncomfortably hot weather. For us Texans, however, we all know how the weather can be down here. Now that we’re in the heart of the summer, here are some tips to help you stay hydrated during a heat wave.

Drink Water (and Plenty of It)

This may sound like a no brainer, but is still important to touch upon. According to this article, nearly 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, which can have severe effects on the body during periods of extreme heat. Water acts as an insulator for your body in that it protects your internal organs from heat by carrying it away. The heat is carried away from the organs and is excreted through your skin in the form of sweat. When the body is dehydrated during periods of extreme heat, you’re more susceptible to getting heatstroke. Heatstroke is a serious condition in which major organs like your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles begin to lose function and, if left untreated, can lead to death. The general rule of thumb is if you’re feeling thirsty, you’re probably already mildly dehydrated. The best solution to this is to drink plenty of water to offset thirst.

Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it promotes the increased production of urine. Frequent urinating depletes not only water, but electrolytes as well. Electrolytes are necessary for many bodily functions, and alcohol generally contains not enough of them to replace what you lose. If you do find yourself having a few more drinks than usual this summer, try our Hydration Hero Hangover Package. It’s jam packed with nutrients like vitamin C, magnesium, and B vitamins necessary to rehydrate and get you back on your feet.

Hydrate with Fruits and Vegetables

There are plenty of foods out there that contain water, but fruits and vegetables are some of the best options you can consider when trying to beat out a heat wave. This is because both fruits and vegetables typically contain anywhere from 80 to 98 percent water. By maintaining a diet of eating at least five cups of fruits and vegetables each day, you’re not only replacing your water reserves, but also other nutrients such as vitamins, sodium, and potassium. Perhaps the best thing about hydrating with fruits and vegetables is the versatility. You don’t have to eat them raw. Experiment with soups, shakes, juices, and more!

Sports Drinks

For those of you who aren’t deterred by the heat to exercise outdoors, you may want to turn to sports drinks instead of water. Sports drinks are a good choice in hydration if you’re doing strenuous amounts of exercise in extreme heat for periods longer than an hour. You should consider a drink that contains electrolytes and are around six to eight percent carbohydrates. The purpose for this is to prevent levels of sodium in the blood from getting too low, also known as hyponatremia. Like I mentioned before, water is the preferred choice in hydration. However, when too much water is consumed during long periods of exercising, you’re diluting the sodium from your bloodstream and not replacing it. If left untreated for too long, hyponatremia could lead to seizures, coma, or even death.

If the summer heat is too much for you to handle and you’re looking for more insight on how to get properly hydrated, let Hydration Hero help out! At LT Men’s Clinic, we offer plenty of packages that deliver all of the necessary nutrients to keep you properly hydrated during the hottest of weather. Schedule an appointment with one of our professionals by calling (817) 406-3798 today!