Summertime is all about enjoying the warm weather and spending time outdoors, but when the temperature heats up, so does our risk for dehydration. With an increase in extreme heat events and more widespread heat waves across the U.S. and throughout the world, understanding the crucial role hydration plays in our health is more essential than ever. 

Learn more about how hydration impacts our bodies and follow these tips for staying hydrated to help you feel your best all summer long.

What is Dehydration?

Our bodies become dehydrated when we lose more water than we take in. Water loss happens through sweating, urination, breathing, and bowel movements. If you’re sick and experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, you may have an elevated risk for dehydration as these two symptoms cause high levels of fluid loss. 

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can keep you hydrated, but your body requires more than just water to function properly. For the fastest way to hydrate, add a packet of electrolyte mix DripDrop to your water. This precise formula unlocks a hydration shortcut and provides your body with necessary electrolytes plus magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C.

The Risk of Dehydration During the Summer

Dehydration is a widespread problem, with many Americans experiencing chronic dehydration. But during the summer, the risk of becoming dehydrated heightens because the heat can cause us to sweat more, leading our bodies to lose more water more quickly. 

Because of this increased risk, drinking more water than normal is an essential hydration tip for summer. It’s important to stay cool by taking breaks from the heat in an air conditioned place or in the shade. This is also a great time to take a water break, ensuring you're replenishing the water you’re losing. 

Why is Hydration Important?

Staying hydrated is important to many bodily functions from providing you with energy and aiding in digestion to regulating your body temperature and transporting nutrients to various parts of the body. 

Symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration can include:

• Dry mouth and thirst

• Dark color or bright yellow urine

• Headaches

• Infrequent urination

• Dry skin

• Fatigue

• Dizziness or fainting

• Muscle cramps

If you experience mild symptoms of dehydration, go inside to a cool place, and drink plenty of water. DripDrop’s precise formula, based on oral rehydration science (ORS), is the quickest way to hydrate. Add a packet to your water to help your body absorb fluids and electrolytes more quickly than traditional water.

Severe cases of dehydration can lead to very serious symptoms including:

• Very dark colored urine

• Rapid heartbeat

• Elevated blood pressure

• Severe muscle cramps

• Rapid breathing

• Sunken eyes

• Confusion or irritability

• Fainting

• Memory loss or confusion

If you experience any of these severe symptoms, immediately get out of the heat and seek professional medical help.

7 Tips for Staying Hydrated This Summer

1. Start Your Day by Drinking Water

Before you reach for your morning cup of coffee, try drinking a full glass of water. Dehydration naturally starts to occur because you’re not drinking water while asleep. Starting your day with a full glass of water can boost energy levels. Add a lemon wedge to morning water for added nutrients and to aid with digestion.

2. Drink Plenty of Water Throughout the Day

The proper amount of water a person needs to drink each day depends on individual factors such as level of physical activity, diet, and more. But a general rule of thumb is to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, adding up to two liters or a half a gallon. To stay hydrated in the summer heat, it’s recommended you drink even more than the daily recommended amount because you are likely losing more fluids than normal. 

3. Use an Electrolyte Drink Powder

One of the best hydration tips for summer is to add more electrolytes to your water. DripDrop is packed with electrolytes and was designed using a precise ratio of sodium to glucose to unlock a hydration shortcut. It’s the fastest way to rehydrate—and the tastiest, too. 

Available in a variety of delicious flavors, DripDrop has half the sugar of traditional sports drinks but three times more electrolytes. DripDrop Zero is also available in a range of tasty flavors, packed with the same essential electrolytes but with zero sugar.

4. Set Reminders to Drink Water

Many of us want to drink more water, but with our busy lives, it can be difficult to remember to drink the daily recommended amount. If you have trouble remembering to drink water throughout the day, set reminders on your phone to keep you on schedule.

5. Carry a Reusable Bottle

Along with phone reminders, physical reminders can also encourage us to sip more often. Carrying a reusable water bottle can reduce plastic waste by reducing your use of plastic water bottles and motivate you to drink water frequently.

6. Limit Caffeinated and Alcoholic Beverages

A cool glass of iced coffee or tea or a fancy poolside cocktail can sound tempting in the summer, but limiting your consumption of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages is an essential tip for staying hydrated. Coffee, tea, and alcohol can have diuretic effects, causing you to urinate more often, meaning your body is losing fluids more quickly. Limit yourself to no more than three caffeinated or alcoholic beverages and be sure to drink a lot of water between beverages.

7. Eat Hydrating Foods

Biting into a juicy slice of watermelon or pineapple is the perfect summer treat—but it’s also good for hydration. If you’re looking for how to stay hydrated this summer, snacking on your favorite hydrating fruits and veggies is an excellent way to boost your water intake. Hydrating foods include cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, watermelon, pineapple, and peaches, but don’t replace your water intake with these foods. Be sure to drink at least the daily recommended amount of water plus eat hydrating foods to stay hydrated this summer.

Beat the Summer Heat with DripDrop

These tips for staying hydrated can help you enjoy your summer while staying healthy and energized. For the fastest way to hydrate, add your favorite DripDrop flavor to your water. The doctor-developed formula is designed to help your body absorb fluids and minerals faster than normal, helping you overcome dehydration symptoms and providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function.