Summer is here in full force and it’s finally time to get out of the house! I know we all get excited to get out and move once the weather is nice but precautions need to be taken to avoid dehydration. Did you know that by the time we feel thirsty we could be dehydrated as much as 5 cups of fluid? To prevent this, make sure to be sipping on water or other fluids continuously throughout the day, especially if you are outside often or doing strenuous activity. The more we are able to stay hydrated the better our body’s internal cooling system will work as well!
General guidelines for hydration:
1. You should be using the restroom approximately every 1.5-2 hours
2. Urine should be the color of lemonade or more pale
3. Try to get lots of fruits and veggies as these are also high in water content
4. During exercise or strenuous activity, monitor weight before and after the activity to determine how much fluid was lost.
- Replace fluids slowly with 2-3 cups of water per pound lost