Staying Hydrated In The Summer

As we move into the summer season, it’s especially important to stay hydrated in order to stay healthy. Water is the yin to summer’s yang, and temperatures can get very hot, almost unbearable, in our area. Make it a habit not to leave home without a large water bottle that you can drink from throughout the day. Many people forget to drink enough water and are unaware they are dehydrated. The mechanism of thirst becomes less effective with age, so it’s especially important for older people, particularly frail elderly people, to remember to drink water and resist the temptation to cut back in order to reduce the frequency of trips to the bathroom.

Staying hydrated will help you keep your energy at an optimum level and will help with mental focus, too. If you become dehydrated, you put yourself at risk of headaches and digestive issues like constipation. Make sure to also eat plenty of water-rich foods, commonly referred to as cooling foods in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Such foods include vegetables and fruits like spinach, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, watermelon, oranges and papayas. Green and black teas are also cooling.

It can be very tempting to add ice to your water or other cool drinks and to eat ice cream in hot weather, but it’s best to drink liquids at room temperature, refrain from adding lots of ice to drinks, and limit the amount of ice cream you indulge in. When you consume too many cold things, such as icy drinks and ice cream, they take more energy to digest and slow down your digestion.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective for treating common symptoms that many people experience during the summer, such as headaches, excessive fatigue, or anxiety and restlessness from the heat. Chinese medicine can also help with inflammation and with balancing your body. Come and see us this summer and remember to stay hydrated!