You may have heard it’s important to drink more water, but how much more?
That’s the million-dollar question and if you’re not a fan of water and rarely
drink it, there’s some good news.

The good news:
Staying well-hydrated cuts your odds of feeling older than your actual age
by 35%. Plus, it slashes the risk of longevity-hampering diseases–heart disease,
stroke, certain cancers and diabetes by 40%.

And one challenge that occurs in a lot of us: we don’t feel thirsty until
we’re already 1% to 2% dehydrated. By then, symptoms like headaches,
brain fog and constant tiredness have begun to set in.
So, keep your fluid levels up by using the two methods listed below.

a) Eat and Drink More Fresh Produce-
Natural foods that contain water are more hydrating than plain old water and
if you’re a fan of fresh produce, you can reduce your dehydration risk by 44%.
Fruits and veggies contain something called “gel water,” a form of fluid that
releases water into the body slowly and steadily to hydrate cells more efficiently.
Fruits and veggies with the highest levels of “gel water” are melons, watermelon,
cantaloupe and honeydew, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, plums, apricots and
berries, (blue, black, rasp and straw)

b) Get Salty-
If you don’t feel thirsty during the day, there is something you can take to
increase your thirstiness and that something is Salt.
Yes, a hot-button issue for some, due to high blood pressure, but if you’re
pressure is okay and salt doesn’t present a problem, take a small pinch of
Himalayan salt and add it to a glass of water. This strategy increases
your thirst by 70%. Himalayan pink salt contains minerals calcium, potassium
and magnesium, all of which further optimize your body’s fluid balance.

c) Make This Treat-
If you’re a fan of smoothies and juices, then this beverage (a slushie) made
with juicy fruits (watermelon, strawberries and lemons and it can cut your
hydration risk by 40%.
The Refreshing Summer Beverage-Strawberry-Watermelon Slushie!
Ingredients:
3 lemons
1 medium watermelon (without seeds)
1/2 cup of sugar or dark honey (optional)
1/2 cup of water
1 bunch of fresh mint
2 cups of fresh strawberries or a bag of frozen strawberries
To make:
Grate 1/4 tsp. of zest and squeeze 1/3 cup of juice from the lemons;
set aside. Cut the watermelon in half; scoop out a few pieces from the
center. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag; freeze overnight. In a pot, heat sugar,
water and mint over medium heat; cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves,
2 to 3 mins. Discard mint; let cool.
Get out the blender, blend the watermelon, strawberries, mint syrup, reserved
lemon zest and juice until smooth. Enough for 6 servings.
Important tip:
If you have a small blender, you may have to blend one half of the strawberries
during the first blend and then the other half, so as not to clog up the blender.

Sources:
* The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
* Yale University-Research Dept.
* Taste of Home-Magazine (Summer Beverages)

Please make sure to pass this article (and the recipe) onto loved ones,
co-workers, neighbors, etc. or to anyone that doesn’t get enough water
during the dog-days of June, July and August.
Pass it along over at Facebook, Tik-Tok, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, Instagram
(stories) and Twitter.

Thank-You!