Summers in North Texas can be brutal. In 2022, we endured 47 days of 100-degree temperatures, making it the fourth-hottest summer on record (2011, with 78 days of triple digits, is No. 1).
And the summer of 2023 is shaping up to be another hot one – temperatures in the last week of June will be well above 100.
During this extreme heat, staying hydrated is particularly important because roughly 50%-70% of our body mass is made up of water. Cells, blood, muscles, tissues, and the brain all rely on water to function properly. When you lose even 2% of your body mass of water from sweating, you may begin to experience symptoms of dehydration and heat exhaustion, including headaches, fatigue, cramping, low blood pressure, and even confusion or loss of consciousness.
So, how much water should we drink every day? You’ve probably heard this advice: Eight glasses of water per day, or 64 ounces. But the National Academy of Medicine suggests daily intake should actually be higher: 92 ounces for women and 125 ounces for men.
If that seems like an ocean to you, don’t fret; it doesn’t all have to come from guzzling H2O.
Many healthy foods are high in water content, and they can help you stay hydrated. More than 20% of your daily water intake should come from something you eat rather than drink, so let’s take a closer look at some water-rich foods and how they can help you beat the heat.
