How to Stay Hydrated

Consider this Hydration 101. I’ll tell you how to stay hydrated and why it’s so important.

Staying hydrated seems obvious to me since I drink 2 gallons of water a day. And I have everyday for the passed 10 years.

I’ve come to the realization that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for hydration.

In fact, I’ve come to learn that some people haven’t had a sip of water in years.

And it’s not because they live in the dessert, but because they choose to drink something else. (Usually soda.)

This blew my mind.

But, then I also realized that I’ve been living the benefits of being hydrated for a long long time. So I forgot what it’s like to not know.

Anyway, this post will help get you up to speed on why you need to be drinking water regularly, and why it’s critical for your health and wellbeing.

Why do you need water?

Adequate hydration is necessary for healthy function of the human body.

Your body is over 70% water. So getting enough water to maintain health is essential. All your body functions rely on water to some extent in order to work properly.

Your muscles, tendons, organs, nerves and mind all need water to function correctly.

What happens if you don’t drink enough water?

If your body’s low on water intake then you can get dehydrated. Many people are chronically dehydrated and suffer daily because of it.

Symptoms of dehydration

Fatigue, lethargy, low energy, headaches, migraines, muscle cramps, bad mood.

Not good.

Luckily all it takes to feel better is a little high quality H2O.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Meaning if you click a link and buy something I may get a small commission.

Here are 5 tips to keep in mind to stay hydrated. these work for the hot summer months, hard workouts, and for life in general.

1. Hydrate first thing in the morning

Drink 16-32 ounces of water as soon as you wake up in the morning to stay hydrated.

I personally fill up a mason jar with a liter of distilled water, squeeze half a lemon juice into it and add a few granules of Celtic sea salt.

It helps wake me up, activated my metabolism and helps me stay hydrated.

2. Always have water with you

Get a water bottle and take it with you wherever you go. That way you always have water on hand to drink and stay hydrated.

3. Slam water between sets

Make a conscious effort to drink a lot of fluids while engaging in physical activity.

Take water breaks often to avoid dehydration. Slam water between sets. I consume at least 32 ounces of water during every workout.

4. Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables

These fruits and vegetables have high water content to help keep you hydrated.

They also have a cooling effect on your body, and they contain vitamins and minerals that help balance electrolytes.

5. Avoid sugary drinks

Soda, and other flavored and sweetened drinks dehydrate you. It’s a net negative hydration even if it is a liquid.

How to know if you’re hydrated?

If your pee is clear you’re in good shape.

Can you drink too much water?

You can actually drink too much water. The amount of water that is ’too much’ depends on the individual. But if you drink lets stay 1-2 gallons in very short amount of time that can have a negative affect.

Some people have actually died from drinking too much water too quickly. This is an extreme example but it has happened.

Electrolyte balance and over hydration

Chugging too much plain H2O without replenishing some minerals can actually mess up your electrolyte balance.

Electrolytes are minerals that help your body function. They allow electrical signals to be sent throughout your body in an efficient manner so your body’s systems can communication and function well together.

If you drink a lot of water and don’t replenish electrolytes it could flush out or dilute the electrolytes already in your body.

However, there is no need to add electrolytes to your water as long as you get them from other sources, such as your diet or supplementation. If you eat a balanced diet of all-natural whole foods then you should be fine.

How to maintain electrolyte balance

If you train hard often and sweat a lot, you might want to add electrolytes to your water.

Squeezing fresh lemon juice with a pinch of sea salt can help replenish electrolytes. You could also drink mineral water which naturally has electrolytes in it.

You want to add electrolytes to your water, add things with Sodium, Chloride, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium. And be careful not to overdo it. A little can go a long way.

There are product out there to add electrolytes to your water. Or you could drink mineral water, which has naturally occurring trace minerals and electrolytes.

How to stay hydrated if you hate water?

You don’t hate water. You just haven’t drank good water. And you probably drink a lot of sugar water.

I don’t know you personally, but I’m playing the odds here. And odds are that’s true. So, start drinking good water and stop drinking the sweet stuff.

You’ll be amazed at how GOOD water tastes once you clean the junk out of your system.

You pick up on a slightest hint of minerals and flavor from plain water. It’s pretty incredible actually.

So ween off the bad stuff, and lean into the good. Use natural flavoring if you need a crutch. Drink some herbal tea. Enjoy some lemon water. Heck, even have some bone broth if that floats your boat. The point is, try to implement good habits and get rid of the bad.

How to Stay Hydrated without drinking water

Eat radishes.

Don’t like radishes?

Then drink water.

Lots and lots of water.