National Hydration Day

Today, the United States celebrates National Hydration Day. Proper hydration is vital to living a healthy life, but it is often overlooked. It is easy to forget to carry a water bottle on a hot day outside, but skipping out on H2O can lead to major health risks.

Hydration Facts

Drinking plenty of water should be incorporated into everyone’s life, but people often fail to do this. It’s unfortunate because water is such an integral part of all life, not just human life. Over 70% of the Earth is covered in water. Even the human body is mostly made of water, making up over 60% of the human body. Some organs are mostly water, as well. Both the brain and the heart are roughly 73% water. The lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water. 79% of your muscles and kidneys are water. Even your bones are partially made of water, containing about 31%. As you can see, your body needs water to function at a high level.

To have a better idea about the importance of National Hydration Day, we have provided some important facts:

• Water plays a role in digestion. As we mentioned earlier, much of your body is made of water, so staying hydrated helps your body digest food better.
• Water helps regulate body temperature, so staying hydrated on hot days protects your body.
• About 75% of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration.
• Dehydration can lead to reduced kidney function, kidney stones, hypertension, urinary tract infections, and more.
• Chronic dehydration was a factor in 20% of cases that lead to kidney stones.
• Dehydration causes fatigue. It can also reduce mental focus, memory, mood, and reaction time.
• Your physical performance reduces by nearly 3% due to performing while dehydrated.
• Water is a key component of blood. When you are dehydrated, your blood pressure decreases, heart rate rises, and the blood flow to your arteries reduces.
• Severe dehydration sets in when about 10% of their total weight to water loss.

Why We Love National Hydration Day

It encourages healthy physical activity

We all know how great exercise can be for our health, but working out while dehydrated is anything but healthy. Water provides your body with the power and fuel it needs to get you through a workout or a busy afternoon outside. When you’re properly hydrated, you’re able to exercise in a happy, healthy way—and that makes your mind and body happy.

It inspires people to make other positive choices

When you’re properly hydrated, you may find that you feel a lot better than you do when your body is short on water. (After all, dehydration can cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and feelings of exhaustion.) Getting into the habit of drinking water more often can feel like a victory, and that may inspire you to build other healthy habits in your life. The sky’s the limit!

It reminds us of how important our health is

Heatstroke or dehydration can happen to anyone, no matter how healthy they may seem on the surface. Symptoms can sneak up on you, and nobody is immune to the risks of not staying hydrated enough. Hydration awareness is an important reminder that no matter how young, agile, or fit we may feel, our bodies need water, and health isn’t something to mess around with.

National Hydration Day Activities

Set reminders to regularly hydrate during the day

Write out reminders on post-it notes or type them into your phone. You can even download apps that remind you to drink a set amount of water each day. After following these reminders for a while, they’ll likely become a habit that you’ll practice without even thinking about it.

Tell everyone you know to stay hydrated

Remind your loved ones that it’s essential to drink lots of water each day, especially when they’re outdoors in the summer or are exercising. People often forget to prioritize hydration, but being prompted by a friend or family member who cares can stand as a great reminder. (Feel free to share this post on your social channels too.)

Make some tasty infused water

If you avoid drinking water because you find the taste a little bland, infuse a pitcher of water with mix-ins like lemon wedges, cucumber slices, strawberries, cantaloupe, mint, or other refreshing produce. Sometimes, simply having a tasty beverage on hand can make all the difference. You can even take things a step further by filling up grab-and-go bottles of infused water at the beginning of each week or filling up a special pitcher for your desk at work.

Eat water-rich food

You don’t just have to drink water to stay hydrated. Countless foods are full of water. Watermelon is 92% water, hence the name! Cucumber is 95% water, celery is 95%, and strawberries are 91%. There are plenty of fruits and veggies that can help you stay hydrated.