How to Stay Hydrated in the Searing Summer Heat

We’re likely to hit our first triple-digit day this weekend. (You’ll likely find us lounging by the pool at one of the Tandem Properties apartments in Davis.) Whether you spend the day schlepping hot tar onto a roof or basking in front of the air conditioning vent, the single most important thing you can do to keep yourself healthy is to stay hydrated and drink. A lot. And no, we ain’t talkin’ margaritas (though one or two after the sun is over the yardarm might be nice).

Ecotools.com has some great tips on how to stay hydrated when the summer temps soar. They’re really easy to remember and follow:

Drink

The answer is simple; the best way to stay hydrated is good old-fashioned water!  The old rule of eight glasses a day still stands, but you’ll want to indulge in extra water if you’re working out vigorously or consuming a lot of dehydrating drinks like coffee and alcohol.  Need extra inspiration to get the water you need?  Toss some fruit in your glass for a little flavor, lemons are the old stand by, but limes, cucumbers, or berries are yummy as well.  You can always buy a cute reusable, eco-friendly water bottle for yourself too!

Eat

The foods you eat also count towards helping you stay hydrated.  Consuming foods that are rich in anti-oxidants and water help keep your skin glowing and healthy.  Most fruits and veggies are good for you, but these choices pack an extra punch: pomegranates, blueberries, goji berries, tomatoes, beans, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.  Diet plays a role in strengthening your skin’s ability to maintain moisture, so make sure the foods you’re eating are rich in essential fatty acids, like those found in walnuts, flaxseed, salmon, and olive oil.  They all play a role in helping skin cells stay hydrated.

Apply

For skin, contrary to popular belief, water doesn’t immediately affect it.  Real Simple Magazine explains: “Our skin doesn’t perk up when we consume water,” says Katie Rodan, a dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay area and a coauthor of Write Your Skin a Prescription for Change. In fact, when you ingest it, “water doesn’t go straight to the skin,” she says. “It goes through the intestines, gets absorbed into your bloodstream, and is filtered by kidneys. Then it hydrates cells.” When it comes to moisturizing skin, drinking water falls short.”

So – eat, drink, and be slathered. How do you like to stay cool and hydrated during the summer?