HOW TO STAY HYDRATED IN HUMID WEATHER

North Carolina is an amazing place to live. However, I wish we didn't have such humid weather in the summer. Last week, things at my job ramped up. We had a ton of photoshoots and things to attend outside and my hair and body was having none of it.

Naturally, when you're busy, you forget to keep hydrated. That's exactly what happened to me. A few days ago, I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a bus. I knew immediately that it was due to dehydration.

So, since my blog has served as a source of information gathering for myself and for all of you lovely people reading this, I wanted to look up some tips on how to stay hydrated in humid weather. Let's get started:

1: AVOID THE HOTTER HOURS

This seems pretty self-explanatory, but try to avoid going out during extra-humid times of the day. This is usually when the sun is out the most around noon to 4 p.m. wherever you are. 

While some of us can avoid going outside during these times, others like my husband can't. The rest of tips should be able to apply to those with jobs that force them to be outside during the hottest time of the day.

2: DRINK ELECTROLYTES 

When I was in college, I had a buddy in my major who played football. I remember hearing that they had to rush him to the hospital following a game because he was having massive cramps.

It turned out that he was drinking mostly water and wasn't replacing the electrolytes in his body as he was sweating during the game. While your body does lose water when you sweat, it also loses salt.

Sports drinks like Gatorade help to replenish your electrolytes, which keep your muscles from cramping while also keeping you hydrated. It also helps that sports drinks are flavored!

3: LIMIT SODAS AND ALCOHOL

Sodas and alcohol contain a ton on of sugars. When you drink them, your body will naturally dehydrate.

When you know that a humid day is coming, be sure to limit your soda and alcohol intake. I try to drink mostly water during the day, but I do have a diet soda or two. Sometimes, I get a drink from a drive-thru and they give me a regular soda. I personally feel dehydrated after drinking regular soda vs. drinking a no-sugar soda.

4: EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Of course, it is always a good idea to add these foods into your diet, but it is particularly beneficial to hydration in the summer. Most fruits and vegetables contain a high percentage of water.

This means that they will give you the vitamins and minerals your body needs while also keeping your body hydrated. Fruits can also be a great substitution for sweets in the summer.