The Best Ways to Naturally Hydrate Your Body

The Best Ways to Naturally Hydrate Your Body

Some common sense advice on hydration and 10 tips to keep your body naturally hydrated and healthy for better body performance and less chance of muscle fatigue and injury.

We all know that one of the most important factors with our health when kiting is hydration. This is just as important in the cold climates as the more obvious hot climates because good hydration leads to better body performance and less chance of muscle fatigue and injury.

First of all a bit of common sense…

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There are some very basic steps we should all be taking to be better hydrated and healthier.

1. Stop eating food which dehydrate you.
2. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
3. Drink plenty of water
4. Rest! Sleep helps your body repair.
5. Stop Smoking.

The above however we all already know. Now for 10 great tips to hydrate naturally.

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1. Sip Tepid Water.

The body has to expend energy to bring cold water to body temperature before being absorbed. Cold water cools you off but doesn’t hydrate quite as quickly. Sip small amounts of tepid water throughout the day to bring yourself out of dehydration into a state of full hydration.

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2. Drink Coconut Water. Lots of it.

Coconut water is high in potassium, and is fat & cholesterol free. According to a 2010 study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, plain coconut water hydrated athletes better than both sports drinks and water. And coconut water with the addition of sodium is that much better. Not that we’re all going to go out and start drinking salty coconut water…

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3. Get Cool as a Cucumber & drink cucumber juice.

Cucumber juice is about 95% water, and is a good source of vitamins A, C, & folic acid. The fibre in both juiced and whole cucumbers actually helps you to stay hydrated longer. Juice cucumbers with apple & add a squeeze of lemon and a sprig of mint for a sweet, refreshing quencher.

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4. Spread on That Avocado.

Avocados are high in potassium and full of healthy fats & fibre that help you to hold onto H2O longer. And they’re yummy. Like, REALLY yummy. Smash them into a guacamole, spread on a sandwich, or just eat right out of the peel for a simple snack.

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5. Be a Tea Person.

Iced, herbal teas are a tasty way to get hydrated. Here are some of our favourites: iced chamomile tea with lemon and honey; iced peppermint tea blended with fresh watermelon juice; & iced rooibos tea muddled with fresh mango.

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6. Say Hello to Horchata.

Horchata is a traditional, Latin American sweet rice-milk drink that is lightly creamy and spiced with cinnamon. It’s a wonderful sipper for super hot evenings, and it helps you stay hydrated (and looking cool) at social events. Plus it’s simple to make.

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Grab Some Lemonade, Honey!

7. Classically Southern and perfect for Summer, lemonade is both hydrating and tasty. Go for a lemonade sweetened with stevia to avoid a major sugar crash. But if you’re working on the lawn all day and need a quick energy boost & major electrolytes along with your H2O, sweeten your lemonade with raw demerara sugar, honey, or maple syrup. To double up on hydration & nutrition add cucumber or watermelon juice to your lemonade.

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8. Chug Chia.

Chia seeds were traditionally used by Aztec warriors to increase stamina, strength, and endurance on the battlefield. Beside being high in essential omega fatty acids 3 & 6, chia is coated in a unique soluble fibre. The fibre in chia is hydrophilic, meaning that chia seeds absorb 10 to 12 times their weight in water. This quality means that water-soaked chia prolongs hydration and helps you to retain electrolytes. Drink soaked chia to pre-hydrate your body, but make sure to drink your chia with plenty of water. We like to stir a couple of tablespoons into cold coconut water: so refreshing!

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9. Be a Courgette (Zucchini) Fiend.

Really. Courgettes are a high-water content vegetable, and they make a a very good raw linguine. Shave length-wise with a peeler, discarding the seedy centre (or just eat it). Toss with a basil pesto.

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10. Get Juicy.

Now, some juices are better than others (mango is full of skin-hydratingVitamin A, for example). But most Summer-seasonal fruits will do the trick and make you feel great.

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