Getting enough water is crucial. In the summer months, we are usually active, in the heat, and tend to sweat a lot, causing us to lose water and key minerals. It’s important to replenish throughout the day. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be dehydrated other times of year — for instance, the air here in Minnesota is super dry in the winter. If your skin and lips are dry, you need to boost your hydration. Most people are chronically dehydrated, so unless you’re really on top of it, you probably are too!
Why hydration is important (according to the Harvard School of Public Health):
- Regulates body temperature
- Keeps joints lubricated
- Prevents infections
- Delivers nutrients to cells
- Keeps organs functioning properly
- Prevents fatigue and headaches
- Improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood
But keep in mind, the source, quality, and even the container you choose can make a positive or negative impact on your health.
Drink Distilled Water
Distilled water is the cleanest water you can drink. It is free of chemicals, metals, and radiation and gives your body more space to adapt. You can read all about my experience switching to distilled water and how it has impacted my health and that of my clients in this blog post.
There is no need to remineralize your distilled water, so long as you are getting minerals from your food. But if you want to add minerals, add 2 – 4 droppers of Cellcore CT Minerals. If you’d like to order Cellcore supplements, contact us.
Looking for a distiller for your home? Here’s a short video showing off my countertop home distiller from Pure Water. You can shop Pure Water distillers and use promo code MHB-5 for 5% off.
Replacing Electrolytes
At a basic level, just a pinch of high-mineral sea salt on your tongue will do you well. I like Redmond Real Salt. Along that same vein is another great option, homeopathic cell salts, which provide all the minerals that cells require. We carry Cell Salts, Potassium, and Sea Salt from UNS in our office. These are easy for kiddos to take — they dissolve on your tongue and have a lightly sweet taste.
Looking for something more flavorful? Skip the Gatorade, Pedialyte, or Propel. These products are full of sugar and artificial colors. Instead, we love Ultima, a natural alternative to the sport drinks with about 10 natural flavor options. It comes in powder form you can add to your water bottle, or even on the go packets (toss these in your kid’s sports bag).
If you’re up to it, you can make your own homemade electrolyte drink.
How to Make Water More Appealing
We love to add fresh fruit or herbs to our water. Try some of these combos:
- Cucumber and mint
- Basil and watermelon
- Lime and cherry
- Lemon and strawberry
You can also do homemade popsicles to get more fluids into your kiddos on hot days. Throw fruit and coconut water into the blender, then freeze in silicone molds.
Get a Reusable Water Bottle You Like
Choose a water bottle or drinking vessel that appeals to you and your family. Ditch the plastic and choose stainless steel or glass, whenever possible — especially if your bottle is going to be in the heat, as heat causes plastics to break down and leech into your water — no thank you!
There are endless water bottle options out there, as you know. Some of our favorites are:
- Klean Kanteen (stainless steel)
- Life Factory (glass)
- Hydro Flask (stainless insulated)
- Mason Jar (use silicone koozies for easy holding and less apt to break if dropped)
These tips come from our At-Home Health Manual. Grab your free copy to get 20+ pages of ideas on how to care for your family naturally.
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