Hydrate for a Happy, Healthy Heart!

Hydrate for your Health!

The weather in the Northeast is finally beginning to mellow and it won’t be long before the warmth of summer has arrived! As seasonal temperatures rise, our bodies naturally begin to perspire more, and not just during an intense workout.

Staying hydrated year-round is important to your health and wellness, but it is especially important to pay attention to your fluid intake during the warmer seasons and in hot climates.  According to the American Heart Association, keeping your body hydrated helps your heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles work efficiently!

Dehydration can be serious and it doesn’t necessarily require running a marathon to become dehydrated. Just being outdoors for a prolonged period gardening in the sunshine can deplete your body’s hydration. To keep your body hydrated, be sure to take a break and sip a drink throughout the day – and drink plenty of liquids before and after your workout.

Water is the best option for hydration, but it can be boring! I stay hydrated in warm weather by sipping iced lemon-water throughout the day. It’s an aromatic treat to the senses to add various fruit slices or spices to water for a flavor-infusion. Try adding a spearmint leaf, or a slice of pineapple, cucumber, lime or strawberry, or even a few smashed frozen berries to your iced water!

To mix up where I get my fluids, I also enjoy iced green tea, or a cup of broth with a meal. Eating juicy fruits can provide water to your body as well, but watch those high carb fruit calories because they can add up quickly!

Cheers to springtime weather and healthy-heart hydration!

Yours In Wellness,

Colleen Ketchum,
Founder of the BeyondBarre Method and
Owner of Pilates In Motion Fitness Studio, Warwick, NY