It’s hot out, and you’re sweaty - but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it work, stay cute, and maintain optimal hydration levels! (Okay, maybe the cute thing is out, but stay with me here…)
Written by Kiki Athanas, In-House Wellness Expert @ Calii Love and Founder of MEByKiki.com.
Rather than play the mom card and suggest you “bring your water bottle” (although that’s indeed some great advice!) – staying hydrated can be more fun and less obvious than you think. In the following post, I break down 3 trusted strategies to beating the summer thirst so that you can power on through the heat (and rock that sweaty glow).
1. Eat Hydration Rich Foods
While drinking water is the more obvious strategy, and should certainly be incorporated into your daily routine as often as possible, try opting for hydration-rich foods which act as a little “bonus” to getting your fluids in!
Some of my seasonal favourites include watermelon, cucumbers, and celery. Simply adding these items into your main dish (or enjoy any kind of melon for dessert which will also help with digestion), can help keep you feeling refreshed and will likely lower your tendency to feel the need to guzzle down litres of water on a hot summer day!
Generally speaking, most fruits & veggies are higher in water content, so if you’re ever confused or need a quick fix – just go with a salad of your choosing and call it a win! Calii Love’s current seasonal delight is the Excited Salad which contains Chopped Kale, Roasted Beets, Green Apple, Watermelon Radish, Vegan Feta Cheese, Apple Beet Vinaigrette, Espresso Walnuts and is a lean 339 calories – so loads of room for dessert (hint hint: MELON!).
2. Steer Clear of Diuretics
While we all love our coffee (it’s our human right, am I right?!), try to lower your caffeine consumption if you can during the summer, as it’s a diuretic which simply means it will make (or “help”) you go! In fact, coffee is also a bladder irritant, so be prepared to use the bathroom after a cup of joe – and equally prepared to refuel soon or immediately afterwards!
Surprise, surprise, alcohol is also a known diuretic that works by increasing urine output, so it should also be avoided or consumed mindfully in small quantities (for more reasons than one – but I won’t get into all that here!).
3. Be Mindful
Ending on a positive note, drinking water doesn’t have to be a chore, but reinforcing this awesome behaviour can go a long way. Try keeping track of how much you drink (either in a journal or use an app), so that you can monitor & adjust accordingly – as well as to reward and be proud of how much you do end up drinking! Go you!
Of course, remember that what goes in comes out, and replenishing as often as necessary for YOU (i.e. some people use the bathroom more frequently than others) is a sure fire way to stay in balance and properly hydrated at all times.
Last but not least, listen to your mom: “bring your water bottle”. If it’s there, filled up and accessible, the likelihood of you drinking more is greatly increased (crazy how that works!).