Even though our northern summer is wrapping up, we still have a few hot days left up here in the wild north!
On those hot summer days, we need to make sure that we staying hydrated.
Hydration in the summer is especially important because we perspire more, we exert ourselves more with yard work and outdoor sports, or just being outside, and sometimes indulge in drinking summer bevvies that are often dehydrating. Combine that with the hot sun, and you have a recipe for dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
As a hot yoga teacher and practitioner, I know how important it is to stayed hydrated, all year round! Before doing any activity where you know you will be perspiring a lot, make sure to drink up!Drink as much fresh filtered water as you can prior to your activity, and then replenish lost electrolytes after you are done.
When we are electrolyte depleted from heavy exercise (in the heat or not), certain medications, diarrhea or vomiting, persistent night sweats, and just perspiring in general, to name a few) we need to ensure we are replenishing them.
There the healthier options over reaching for the well known coloured sports beverages that contain glucose syrup solids and bromine brominated vegetable oil (BVO). (BVO is found in these drinks to increase fluidity, but is also used to create lead dissolving additives for gasoline, photographic paper films, fire-extinguishing materials, and agricultural fumigants.)
Coconut water is the perfect natural electrolyte replenisher! Wonderful for ALL ages!
Coconut water contains many vitamins like c and b’s for energy and cell repair, contains carbohydrates (simple sugars) for energy, and electrolytes like sodium, ( a salt), magnesium, calcium, potassium and chloride. Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes are essential for life.
Drinking coconut water:
Try drinking one right from a young coconut where the liquid hasn’t absorbed into the nectar or the meat part of the coconut. Just cut the top off and put a straw in! You will not get the same affect with a darker brown, aged coconut. Most grocery stores are started to carry young coconuts.
Or you can even buy coconut water at the grocery stores now in bottles or tetra packs. Just look out for added sugars or colourings. Choose one that the only ingredient is coconut water.
You can freeze coconut water into Popsicles for your kids or teething babies.
However you drink it, remember the importance of hydration and replenishing when our bodies need energy.
Look for signs of dehydration
- Extreme thirst
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dry mouth
Look for signs of heat exhaustion
- Heavy sweating
- Rapid pulse rate
- Headache
Look for signs of heat stroke from being in the sun or the heat for a considerate amount of time;
- Headache
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Hot, red skin
- Muscle cramps
- Mental disorientation
A tip I use to stay hydrated, is to keep a 1L bottle of water around instead of drinking out of a glass throughout the day. I know by the end of the day, that bottle should be empty. Everyone’s water requirements are different, but one litre per day is the average recommendation for an adult.
Post exercise is when you need to start adding the electrolytes to your water, or drink something natural that already contains them, like the coconut water.
Hope you are enjoying your summer!
Don’t forget to drink up! Cheers!
