Wellness Wednesday: Fitness, lifestyle, and general health tips and news. Because we want you to be the best you.

By: Lindsey Carman

During the humid summer months, especially in sunny Florida, it’s hard to keep yourself hydrated. With the copious amounts of sweat we lose every day, drinking ounces and ounces of water is something difficult to do.

According to the Institute of Medicine, men should drink at least 3 liters daily and women should consume around 2.2 liters. However, you may find it hard to force yourself to chug down glass after glass of water, so just be aware of how much you are drinking through out the day.

Instead of drinking water all day long, you can drink electrolyte-balanced drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade, and also coconut water (Learn more about coconuts in last week's blog post.). It’s best not to over do it with sports drinks because the sodium and sugar levels may not be beneficial to your system. Water is the best source of hydration, but it may be nice to switch it up from time to time. 

Although the taste can take some getting used to, coconut water is very good for hydration. Studies have shown that it keeps your hydrated faster and longer than compared to sugary sports drinks and water. Packed with potassium and low calories, this fat-and cholesterol-free drink is a great alternative to water. 

Although it’s extremely rare, be cautious about over-hydrating yourself. The side effects can be deadly — this condition is not something to mess around with. When it comes to hydration, be smart about it. It’s something that takes time to get used to, and once you have your pattern down, then it’s all down hill from there.

And did I mention, that it keeps your weight down? Bring me some water, please.

Photo courtesy of shannondelvesfitness.com