💧🥤 Are You Dehydrated? 🫖🍑

As the weather starts warming up, we need to pay attention to how much fluid we consume daily to keep our bodies hydrated. We often get busy and simply forget to drink, so our bodies don't get enough liquids to operate properly.

While it sounds simple enough to say, "Just drink more," research indicates that many of us are chronically mildly dehydrated. Or we choose the wrong type of liquids, which can cause more dehydration.

What should we drink and how much?

From a scientific standpoint, most professionals agree water is probably the best choice.

But what if you just don't like the taste of plain old water like my husband?

The answer? Drink tea.

Tea is brewed with water — the ultimate hydrator. In fact, decaffeinated and herbal teas can be counted cup for cup toward your hydration goal because they are considered just as hydrating as plain water.

So, if you're like my husband and don't like plain water or think water is too boring, tea can help to mix things up flavor-wise.

My husband enjoys

• Grandma's Garden Fruit Tea,
• Organic Hibiscus Sangria,
• Strawberry Creme Fruit Tea,
• Decaf Raspberry Green Tea,
• Berryliscious Green Tea,
• Pomegranate and Blueberry Green Tea, and
• Honeybush Peach to name just a few.

While caffeinated tea doesn't hydrate like plain old water, decaffeinated or fruit teas, it's still a great choice.

Although caffeinated tea can be slightly diuretic (it may make you urinate more), the effect of this small amount of caffeine is minimal at best.

Research has shown that caffeine may not act as a diuretic until you drink 500 milligrams (mg) or more a day. Since that is the equivalent of about 11 to 18 cups of caffeinated tea, according to the Mayo Clinic, I think it would be unlikely that you'll consume that much.

I drink a lot of hot and iced tea, and I would find that quantity very hard to reach. As a result, it would be okay to count your mug of caffeinated tea toward your daily total fluid intake.

How much should you drink?

The National Academy of Sciences recommends that women get about 91 ounces of fluid per day and men about 125 oz.

Not all come from drinking; about 20 percent comes from our food, but we should drink the remainder.

That means women should aim for around 9 8-oz cups of fluids a day, and men should aim for 13 8-oz cups.

I enjoy my tea hot and cold and love knowing I'm giving my body the hydration it needs, including all the health benefits.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, these benefits include a decreased risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Hot or iced, tea is a great beverage to add to your repertoire to keep your body hydrated during the warmer weather.

I have over 160 different kinds of teas that you can add to your stash, so you'll never be bored with what you're drinking.

Here's to staying hydrated,

~ Dani

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. It is not to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare or medical professional.