Beat the Summer Heat with Garmin

Beat the Summer Heat with Garmin

 

The coming days will be hotter and longer. Summer is here, which means staying hydrated is more needed than ever. Hydration is one of the most important aspects of your overall health. In this article, you will know why drinking enough water is a must, the required daily water intake, the kinds of fluids your body needs, and how to turn hydration into a habit. 

 

The Importance of Being Hydrated 


A big portion of the human body is water, with an average of roughly 60%. It’s essential for us to be hydrated so our body can keep functioning the way we need it to. Water keeps our skin healthy and helps carry nutrients, oxygen, and glucose to cells. It also helps regulate our body temperature, especially in hot conditions. 


With proper hydration, you avoid acute to serious and life-threatening health issues. Low levels of fluid in the body can cause headaches, feelings of dizziness, poor concentration, and a dry mouth. If left untreated, dehydration can cause constipation and even urinary tract infections and the formation of kidney stones.

 


 

Benefits of Good Hydration


Proper hydration optimizes our body for peak performance, not only in terms of system functions but also in keeping our level of concentration up. Drinking water helps maximize physical performance, especially during an activity such as workout, training, and the like. 


Dehydration can have significant effects, even when you lose as little as 2% of your body’s water content. Even mild dehydration, such as the loss of 1–3% of body weight, can impair brain function. In a study conducted among young women, researchers found that fluid loss of 1.4% after exercise had negative effects on mood and concentration. It also increased the frequency of headaches. 


So keep yourself hydrated to help your body perform better, improve mental focus, and boost energy level. 

 



Recommended Daily Water Intake


Adults need to drink around 1.5–2 liters of fluid a day. That’s about 8-10 glasses of water. Children should have 6-8 glasses of water a day. The amount of fluid one needs varies depending on the level of physical activity and climate. Athletes in training and people who work out need more as they sweat more often. The more your body loses water, the more you need to replenish it.


What Drinks Count for Good Hydration 


Any drink is a source of hydration. But is every drink good enough? Drinking water is the most recommended choice of drink because it’s readily available. Some drinks contain other nutrients in addition to fluid, such as sugar, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Drinks with high levels of added sugar, however, can cause dental problems and are also believed to increase risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. So it is best to cut back on that and go for sugar-free alternatives. 

 



Hydrate with Garmin


Garmin smartwatches, such as the Fenix 7, come with a hydration tracker. It has a Hydration Tracking widget that displays your fluid intake and your daily hydration goal. It’s a smart way to track your fluid consumption, aids you in meeting your goals, and helps you turn this into a habit.

To help you, we prepared a step-by-step guide on how to use the smartwatches’ hydration-tracking feature:

 

  1. Swipe up or down to view the hydration widget.
  2. Input the amount of fluid you consumed (1 cup, 8 oz., or 250 mL).
  3. Choose a container size. Options vary in capacity.
  4. Hold to customize the widget.
  5. Select an option:
  • To change the unit of measurement, select Units.
  • To enable dynamic daily goals that increase after recording an activity, select Auto Increase Goal.
  • To turn on hydration reminders, select Alerts.
  • To customize your container sizes, select Containers, pick a container, select the unit of measurement, and enter the container size.

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