Stay Hydrated on the Water

 Whether you are just paddling for fun or trying to catch a fish of a lifetime you will want your wits about you.  Especially during the summer when the sun gets up in the sky and the temps are on the rise you need stay healthy.  It’s no time to be dehydrated which could increase your risk of heat stroke.  Having a water bottle onboard with you is obviously the easiest way to ensure you are set but how much should you drink? What about other beverages?  Let’s take a quick look at those questions.

What should you drink?  To put it simply, water.  Other drinks like soda, energy drinks, coffee, alcohol, and other drinks of the sort may make you feel full and trick you that you’re staying hydrated but you are not.  Instead, they are actually dehydrating you!  So try to stick with just water.  If drinking plain water is not something you enjoy, look at adding fresh fruit to it and flavor your water.  And if your like me and won’t give up your coffee for anything, that’s ok.  I drink my coffee on the water.  But I make sure I bring an extra water with me to have to ensure I stay hydrated.

How much should you drink?  Your body uses up the water you drink naturally but it needs even more when you are sweating.  When the sun is beating down on you and reflecting off the water you’ll dry out even faster.  (Although it may not feel like it)  OSHA suggests that outside workers working in over 103 heat index should drink 4 cups of water every hour.  This should be done throughout the hour and not all at once.  Now even if we aren’t out there in that kind of heat you should be drinking throughout the day.  And try to drink a total of 2-4 cups an hour when you’re out paddling around.

I want you to have an amazing time on the water so don’t let getting sick and dehydrated stop this from happening.  Bring bottles of water with you and remember to drink up when paddling around!