Hydration
While the temperatures continue to rise and the sun's rays get stronger, there are a few precautions you should take before going into "sun's out, guns out" mode. For starters, choosing the right sun screen and making sure you drink enough fluids are two key ways to keep your skin safe and your body hydrated. Let's take a look at some ways you can hydrate your body, inside and out.
Hydration Inside
The most important thing you can do especially as an athlete is drink water. If you think you haven't had enough, drink more. This is the season you should definitely be drinking more fluids to prevent fatigue, dehydration, or even worse. On average male runners should be drinking around 125oz and female runners should be around 90oz per day. There are numerous ways you can add more water to your daily routine including having a glass when you first wake up, with each meal, and right before bed. Although, you may want to avoid drinking too much before bed as you may visit the bathroom several times throughout the night. If you’re planning on being outdoors during they hottest time of day, try mixing water with Gatorade (for the electrolytes). While water may be calorie and sugar-free as well as hydrate you, it doesn't replace any sodium or carbohydrates that are lost during your overly sweaty workouts like Gatorade does. Switching between water and a sports beverage with electrolytes like Gatorade while being active is beneficial to hydrating your body. It's important to be mindful of your fluid intake especially for the next few months of higher temperatures, so drink up
Hydration Out
There are too many options available for sunscreen and believe it or not, using a magazine is not one of them. How does someone choose which one to go with? Do you get the SPF 30 that's water-resistant or SPF 30 with oats? UV-A or UV-B, what about both? Perhaps you have a tough time figuring out if you should get a spray vs lotion. No matter the case, there are different avenues you can take, but it really comes down to skin type and personal preference. Choosing the right sunscreen can help and protect your skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. Have tattoos that you want to protect from the sun’s UV rays? There’s a sunscreen (and balm) for that too! Here are some of my favorite sunscreens and guess what? They're vegan!
This brand is specifically designed with tattoos in mind. There are brightener balms, sprays, and sticks all of which are SPF 50 and help protect both your skin and your artwork.
The major push for this sunscreen is the mineral vs chemical aspect. There are several benefits to using mineral based sunscreens including application time. Goddess Garden is one of the only sunscreens that the application time and exposure time is immediate which means it doesn’t require a 15 minute wait period before stepping into the sunshine.
When it comes to laying out on the beach, this is the brand to have. Not only does the original “smell like summer” it’s designed by the people who spend most of their time in the sun. This oil-free sunscreen is packed with vitamins and minerals help moisturize your skin while protect it.
The Kiss MyFace brand has been around for over 35 years and they haven’t missed a beat. With sunflower oil being the main ingredient for this version, this sunscreen is easily absorbed and helps nourish your skin.
Staying hydrated during the summer months is extremely important. Whether you’re drinking gallons of water or applying a full tube of sunscreen every 2 hours your body will thank you. What are some of the ways you’re staying hydrated this summer?