It would be an understatement to say it’s hot here. It has been in the upper 90’s for a few days and it is expected to be a couple more before we see some relief. It’s important everyday to stay hydrated, but it’s even more important on days like this because we more easily lose fluids through sweat. And along with those fluids we lose salts like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Left unchecked, dehydration in the extreme heat can lead to heat exhaustion or even worse, heat stroke.
The CDC has an Extreme Heat Prevention Guide that can prepare you for the rising temperatures and explains how to recognize heat related illnesses. Some of the obvious things we can do to prevent being affected by the heat are:
- staying indoors in the air conditioning,
- earing light, loose-fitting clothing,
- keeping outdoor activities to a minimum in the middle of a hot day, and
- wearing sunscreen and protective clothing if you are out in the blazing sun (I like using an umbrella if I need to walk in the sun. You'd be surprised how well it works to keep the heat and rays off!
In addition, it goes without saying that you should stay properly hydrated. Even on days when the weather is less severe, we should drink half of our body weight in ounces of water. This goes doubly on super hot days and we may require more if we’re sweating. To replace electrolytes, it’s a great idea to eat hydrating foods like fruits and vegetables, and foods like watermelon and celery that have a very high water content and are high in minerals may actually be more effective at restoring hydration. Here are 30 hydrating foods to include in your diet with this extreme weather.
I hope you’re all staying cool!!
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