Top 10 tips to stay hydrated

By Divya Samant- Dietician, Health Factory

1. Don’t wait to get thirsty.
2. Be sensible about the amount of water you drink- if you are exercising or going out in the hot sun you will need to drink more water.
3. Plan Ahead and Pack- Bring it with you. A few containers of drinking water should be a part of any trip- to the conference room even.
4. Make drinking water a mindless habit- Just like how we mindlessly check our phones or facebook accounts, drinking water must not be treated like a chore. One can sip and refresh themselves without planning to finish one jug at a time. This way, we build on a good habit without feeling pressured for the effort.
5. Eating water-based foods- Soups and fresh juices is always good.
6. Munch on foods that have more than 90% of their weight in water content- watermelon, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
7. Take a break from coffee while you are at work and sip the benefits of green tea. A normal Espresso has high caffeine content.  Consuming Caffeine in high doses leads to dehydration. However, switching to unsweetened Green tea, provides the needed morning caffeine boost, however, in low doses, and attributes to the water quota of the day. Additionally, it also provides numerous other phyto- nutrient health benefits.
8. Enjoy tender coconut water. Coconut water is a natural energy drink and acts an oral re-hydration medium in case of de-hydration. Being a natural isotonic beverage, it hydrates perfectly as it has the exact proportion of electrolytes as human cells and plasma. It also contains a host of vitamins and minerals.
9. Stay away from energy drinks. They contain large amounts of sugar and stimulants that can be counterproductive and dangerous.
10. Check your urine - if the color is a dark hue of yellow, you need to drink up.