Hydration is very important to your health, affecting many of your bodily functions. Chronic dehydration can be very serious.

As the summer heats up, it is important to keep drinking water and eating hydrating foods (fruits and veggies) to keep your body functioning well.

The two biggest problems that I run into with getting enough water are a) remembering to stop and drink and b) getting bored with plain water. Here is what I did about it.

Remembering

I actually have reminders on my phone set to go off every two hours to make sure I remember to stop and drink.

When I get up, I have made it a habit to drink a glass of water.

When I am cooking, I try to remember to drink some water.

Before bed I have another glass or two.

Getting Bored With Plain Water

Adding lemon, lime, berries or cucumber to my water gives it enough flavor to change things up. (Lemon water has a whole list of benefits itself)

Water is best for you, though there are times when you might need something extra.

Coconut water is a great hydrator, just be sure to steer clear of ones with additives (straight organic coconut water is best).

The Hippy Homemaker has a great recipe for natural electrolyte drink, as do Wellness Mama and The Food Babe.

Sole (say So-lay) water is a great hydrator and has many other health benefits, you can find Wellness Mama’s recipe for Sole Water here.

Some important notes:

Tap water contains fluoride, lead and a host of other things that you do not want to drink. We have Zero Water Filters, though one day I would love to get a whole house reverse osmosis system.

Each person has different needs to stay hydrated. The best measure is listening to your body’s cues.

Thirst is a key indicator (though if you ignore thirst until you no longer feel thirsty, that’s pretty bad), as are fatigue/confusion, constipation, dark or concentrated urine (it should be light yellow-think straw colored).

Pregnant and breastfeeding moms need to be especially vigilant. It’s recommended that nursing moms drink an extra 8 ounces of water per nursing session. The elderly and young children also should be watched carefully.

Caffeine can cause dehydration, since it works as a diuretic, so be careful with it.

Glass glasses or water bottles are best since plastic ones often contain BPS (it replaced BPA and is just as bad for you), especially if you are infusing your water with fruit, as the acid can cause more leaching of the contaminants in plastic.

What are your favorite ways to stay hydrated?