Nutrition Counseling – July 2016

Stay Healthy & Hydrated

Jeon Carter, Nutritionist, BS

It’s summertime! This means high temperatures and humidity. Are you prepared? It’s easy to lose up to 4 lbs. a day in water weight alone! So how do you stay hydrated and healthy amidst the hottest months of the year?

Here are a few tips:

1. Drink cool, not ice cold water. Cold beverages actually slows digestion and restricts your body’s ability to properly hydrate₁

2. Eat/drink at least half an ounce to one ounce of your body weight in water daily.

High Water Content Fruits:
Watermelon
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Grapefruit

High Water Content Vegetables:
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Celery
Tomatoes

3. Maintain proper potassium-sodium balance by eating foods moderate to high in potassium and low in sodium. Both work together to maintain fluid balance within the body and are essential to keeping your body hydrated.

High Potassium Foods:
Bananas
Tomatoes
Orange Juice
Broccoli

Low Sodium Foods:
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Low-sodium vegetable juices
Lean meats, fish and shellfish
Fat-free or low-fat dairy products

4. Eat light! Consume smaller, more frequent meals, as oppose to larger meals spread farther apart in duration. If you find your appetite diminishes in the summer, try natural appetite stimulants such as ginger and peppermint.

1. curejoy.com