Why Water Is Important & The Many Ways It Keeps Us Energized

I’m so excited to share Nia’s article, Why Water Is Important & The Many Ways It Keeps Us Energized. This is the perfect time of year to talk about water. Now that summer is in full swing, we need that extra hydration! Keep reading for all of her tips and for some of my delicious recipes to help you elevate your water and stay hydrated this summer.

As temperatures rise and warmer weather becomes the norm, it’s crucial to prioritize our hydration during these scorching summer months. With longer days spent under the sweltering heat, our bodies require more water for us to thrive and have fun!

My name is Nia, I’m a Holistic Nutritionist and Autoimmune Thyroid Coach at Immunealong, and I’m a regular Contributor here at Jesse Lane Wellness. Together we’ll explore the importance of staying adequately hydrated during summer. We’ll dive into why water is important, and the many ways water keeps us healthy and energized, so we can enjoy these summer months to the fullest. Let’s unlock the secret to a refreshing and invigorating summer by embracing the power of water!

Water is the elixir of life. While exact percentages vary from person to person, over half of our overall body weight is actually comprised of water. We know that water plays a vital role in many aspects of our health. From aiding with digestion to helping our brains function, to improving our skin’s elasticity. Water has a hand in all of our body’s functions. We need water to survive. But beyond survival, how can we use water to our advantage? How can we make the most of our summer by prioritizing hydration? 

How Much Water Do We Actually Need?

It is suggested that adults can lose anywhere from 0.3 litres to 2 litres of water per hour depending on their activity level and the temperature outside. If you’re someone who is very active in the outdoors, you can bet you’ll experience some significant water loss this summer. So how much do we need to replenish our bodies? As adults, we want to be consuming at least 2.5-3 litres of water per day to maintain our regular bodily functions and replenish any water loss. However, if you’re someone who is highly active and out in extreme heat, you’ll probably want to aim for even more than that.

Water helps with maintaining energy levels and promoting overall well-being. One of my greatest motivators for staying hydrated (aside from keeping me alive) is that water can actually help boost energy. As someone who manages chronic illness on a daily basis, having enough energy to not only stay well but to actually ENJOY my life is a huge priority for me. Ensuring I’m adequately hydrated is one of the easiest ways to tap into some extra energy so I can make the most out of this beautiful summer. So let’s get into it!

Why Water Is Important & The Many Ways It Keeps Us Energized:

Hydration and Cell Function:

Water is absolutely essential for the proper functioning of our body’s cells, including those involved in energy production. When your body is properly hydrated, cells can efficiently carry out the many metabolic processes that convert nutrients into energy we can actually use. And when we’re talking summer fun, we want to have as much energy as we can get!

Improved Cognitive Function:

Dehydration can seriously impact cognitive function. When we’re dehydrated, we’re at higher risk of things like fatigue, decreased alertness, and difficulty concentrating. By staying hydrated, you support optimal brain function, helping you feel more mentally alert and energized. This is especially important for all of those summer road trips where you need to keep your eyes on the road. Or for those long summer nights where you might be up a little later celebrating with friends and family. We want to enjoy our summer and store all of those beautiful memories for years to come. But we can only do that if our brains are hydrated and able to function properly.

Transportation of Nutrients and Oxygen:

Water serves as the base for transporting nutrients throughout the body, such as glucose and oxygen, into your body’s cells. Nutrients and oxygen are crucial for energy production. Proper hydration ensures efficient delivery of these vital substances, which means any extra physical stress you might put on your body while enjoying the great outdoors is minimized.

Muscle Performance and Endurance:

Muscles need water to function optimally. During physical activity in warm conditions, dehydration can lead to muscle fatigue, cramps, and decreased endurance. By staying hydrated you maintain muscle function, allowing for better performance and more sustained energy while you’re enjoying beach days with the kids, hiking the trails, or bike trips uptown for ice cream. Whatever is on the agenda this summer, keeping hydrated will ensure muscle fatigue or injury aren’t what holds you back.

Regulation of Body Temperature:

Water helps regulate body temperature through sweat production and evaporation. When you’re properly hydrated, your body can effectively cool itself, preventing overheating and the subsequent drain of your energy. This is one of the most important. In the hot sun, we are at greater risk of sunburns and heatstroke. Heatstroke can damage your brain, and in severe cases can even cause death. Ensuring we’re adequately hydrated is the first step to keeping ourselves safe while we enjoy our fun in the sun this summer.

Remember, maintaining adequate hydration throughout the summer is essential for sustaining our energy, keeping us healthy overall, and keeping us safe. Let’s all enjoy a wonderful, healthy, hydrated summer of fun spent with loved ones! Cheers!

Boost Your Water Recipe Roundup

We now know the many reasons why water is important for our health, especially during these hot summer months. But what if we don’t love the taste of water, or find it hard to hit our hydration goals because water tastes so boring? Instead of reaching for those instant flavour packs that can be full of additives that we don’t need, try some of these recipes instead!

Fizzy Lavender Lemonade

Whether you choose to bask in the sun on the beach or relax by the dock, this refreshing lavender lemonade is sure to captivate your taste buds. This crowd-pleaser complements backyard BBQs and evening cocktail gatherings flawlessly. Fizzy Lavender Lemonade offers an exciting spin on traditional lemonade and is so easy to make. The bubbles from club soda add a delightful tickle to your senses. The tanginess of lemons harmonizes beautifully with the sweetness of stevia, enhanced by subtle hints of lavender. This lavender lemonade is the perfect drink to help you relax this summer!

Cold Brew Iced Tea

This Cold Brew Iced Tea is so easy to make and is so refreshing too! The base in this recipe is green tea which adds a soft, subtle flavour and provides tons of health benefits. Green tea is known to reduce inflammation, boost energy, prevent weight gain, improve cardiovascular health and brain function, as well as freshen your breath. This is such an easy way to get extra water this summer while also cashing in on those health benefits. Add your favourite fruit or herbs for a fun custom version!

Chia Ginger Lemonade

This refreshing lemonade recipe is the perfect drink to help you feel hydrated and regular all summer long! The fibre in the chia seeds helps promote good digestion, and their omega-3 fatty acids help to boost energy so you can feel ready for all of the fun summer throws at you. This recipe also features lemons (of course) and ginger (obviously). Lemons are packed with skin and immune-supporting Vitamin C, while ginger helps to promote good digestion and boosts circulation in the body. 

Iced Dandelion Vanilla Latte

This Iced Dandelion Vanilla Latte is a refreshing drink that is a detoxifying zero-sugar alternative to iced coffee. It’s made with roasted dandelion root tea which gives it a rich and full-bodied flavour with subtle hints of caramel. This latte is sweetened with stevia, flavoured with a little bit of vanilla, a splash of organic soy (or your favourite) milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Dandelion roots have some surprising health benefits. They can help improve digestion, keep you regular, and support liver and kidney detoxification.

Chaga Mushroom Tea Recipes

If you’re curious about adaptogens and how you can incorporate them into your routine, try these delicious Chaga Mushroom Tea Recipes! There are recipes here for both a Chai and Vanilla version of this delicious refreshing tea. Chaga mushrooms are antifungal, immune-supporting, detoxifying, and energy boosting too. They also contain tons of antioxidants, can reduce high cholesterol, support good digestion, and so much more!

Water Photos by Fernando Andrade & Mae Mu on Unsplash. Photos by engin akyurt and others on Unsplash