Staying Hydrated in the Summer heat

If you want glowing skin, heaps of energy and a healthy digestive system, it’s essential that you consume enough fluids to stay well hydrated. Besides all the other vital functions that fluids perform in your body, they transport oxygen and nutrients to your cells, are involved in the detoxification and removal of wastes, and help regulate your body temperature, preventing you from overheating. It’s often said that we need to drink at least two litres of fluid per day – but did you know that under certain circumstances, you might need even more? If you live or work in a hot climate – as many Australians do – you probably perspire more than people in cooler environments, so you’ll need to top up your fluids even more frequently. Similarly, if you’re physically active, you’ll need extra hydration – especially if you exercise intensively or for long periods of time. And if you exercise in a hot environment, you’ll need more fluids again (fans of Bikram yoga take note!)

Other reasons that you may need extra fluids include air travel, suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting, and being pregnant or breast-feeding – like Miranda is right now!

This summer, I’ve been mixing the water in my drink bottle with a delicious new tonic from RioLife that combines Açaí Berries with Coconut Water.

Coconut water, the juice of fresh, green coconuts, is currently taking the world by storm. And no wonder! It’s Mother Nature’s ultimate isotonic drink – an easily absorbed source of the electrolytes magnesium and potassium.

Each serving of RioLife Açaí Berries with Coconut Water contains nearly a quarter of your daily requirements for potassium, an essential mineral that’s lost when you sweat, (which is a key reason some people get muscle cramps in hot weather or after training). That’s more than one-and-a-half times more potassium than you get from a medium-sized banana[1] – and without any artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners either.

If you’re not familiar with Açaí berries, they’re a high antioxidant, high energy, low sugar superfood that grows wild on palm trees in the Brazilian Amazon. Combined with coconut water they have a refreshingly tropical berry flavour. But even more importantly, the huge helping of antioxidants they contain helps counteract the free radical damage that can occur as a result of physical exercise, as well as from an unhealthy diet and exposure to pollutants and the sun’s UV-rays.

Since skin cells are particularly susceptible to free radical damage, consuming plenty of antioxidants is one way that you can help maintain a healthy, radiant complexion.  Of course it’s important to stay out of the sun and avoid smoking too – and whatever you do, don’t forget to stay hydrated by keeping your fluids up!

Jayne