During hot summer days when it’s fun to be outside and spend several hours jet skiing or swimming, it can be easy to forget to drink water. It’s important to keep yourself hydrated so that you don’t jeopardize your health. Staying properly hydrated helps to reduce your risk of getting injured and helps to keep your blood pressure at a normal level. Read below to calculate what amount of water you should be consuming daily so that you can continue to spend hours in the sun without worrying about dehydration.
Generally, it is recommended to drink 8 eight ounce cups of water daily. However, during long days in the sun, you may need to consume more than 64 ounces of water. Every person has a different weight, and that affects how much water you should consume. An easy way to figure out the amount of water to drink is to divide your body weight (in pounds) by two and that number is how many ounces you should consume. For example, a person weighing 150 lbs should aim for 75 ounces of water daily.
Here are some ways you can change up your water so that it’s more exciting to drink:
- Squeeze in some lemon or lime and add frozen tropical fruit
- Try a flavored sparkling water to get that soda taste without all the calories and sugar
- Make it a game with yourself and challenge yourself to drink some water every time you use your phone
-Written by Rachel Astleford, SDSU Dietetic Student
