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With all of the heat waves occurring across the country (and world), staying hydrated this summer is more important than ever. If the idea of drinking ounces upon ounces of water everyday is a little intimating to you (don’t worry, you’re not alone) then this is the blog post for you! I, myself, struggle with drinking enough water every day. Here are a few tips and tricks that are unique and have really helped me reach my hydration goals!

1. Eat foods with a high water content.

Good news! You don’t have to just drink water to achieve your optimum daily water intake – you can EAT your water too! Many fruits and vegetables have a high enough water content that they can actually help keep you hydrated. Watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, lettuce and zucchini are all foods that are over 90% water! So maybe try adding a few of these as snacks throughout the day to feel well hydrated without having to gulp down tons of water.

2. Carry around a reusable water bottle.

Although you can eat your water, it’s important to drink plenty of water everyday as well! To be honest, actually drinking enough water has always been a struggle for me, but carrying around a reusable water bottle with me everywhere I go has made a huge difference! I have my trusty Stanley tumbler that I use every day. I love how they are dishwasher safe and easily fit in the car cupholder. But when I need a little more motivation I use this Amazon water bottle, which has each hour marked with a line on the side of the bottle to remind me to drink water throughout the day.

3. Don’t be afraid to salt your food.

We’ve heard it time and time again – “salt is bad for you.” And while it’s true that too much salt can have a negative impact on our health, salt is an essential element in maintaining hydration. That’s because sodium is an electrolyte that helps water get to your body’s cells. So eliminating salt completely from our diet can be detrimental to our hydration. It’s important to listen to your body- our bodies will often tell us when we need more electrolytes. For instance you may be drinking a ton of water and eating nutritious foods, but you are craving salty foods, your meals start to taste bland and you still feel dehydrated. Your body may be telling you to add a little salt to your diet to aid in proper hydration!

4. Infuse your water with a variety of additions.

Let’s be honest, drinking plain water all day can get a little boring. When I start to crave a little more flavor, I like add it in using fresh ingredients that I already have on hand. You can add so much flavor to your water simply by adding the juice of a lemon. Lemon water also aids in digestion and supports a healthy immune system. Chia seeds are a great addition to your water as well! Chia seeds soaked in water promote hydration and digestion, and they are a good source of protein and fatty acids. Lime, mint, and cucumbers are other fun additions I like to infuse in my water too!

5. Make smoothies and popsicles.

This my be my favorite tip for staying hydrated this summer – make more smoothies and popsicles! Smoothies and popsicles are packed with water as well as fruits and vegetables that are made of mostly water, so ultimately smoothies and popsicles are just as hydrating as they are delicious! Kenny loves this the popsicles we make using this Amazon popsicle maker and I have had this Vitamix blender for years and it still makes the perfect smoothies!