How To Stay Hydrated This Summer

If you’re someone who struggles to drink water regularly, you’ve likely heard of different “creative” ways to stay hydrated, like eating watermelon or adding fruit to your water if you don’t like the taste!

Those are fine ideas, but surely not the only ways to stay hydrated during your busy life. When it comes to the summer months and staying hydrated, it’s important to know why your body needs water before figuring out how to get enough.

No matter your age, gender or activity level, over half your body is made up of water. Water is an integral part of your body’s processes, from helping your heart pump, to propelling your brain to answer your local coffee shop’s daily riddle, to keeping your body cool on the most stifling summer days.

So, when you lose a lot of it in a short amount of time, you might start feeling worse for wear. But that’s where unique suggestions for staying hydrated can be useful! If you’re a water bug or live near a lake/ocean, unfortunately, you can’t absorb your way to hydration in the pool. But you can eat, sip and freeze your way to hydration this summer! Consider:

Mocktails. Yep, you read that right! Mocktails have become a much more extensive option at restaurants and bars over the past few years. If you’re out enjoying a cocktail, throw in a mocktail. Alcohol (what most cocktails are made of) is a diuretic, meaning it creates more urine (which in turn makes your body lose water). Mocktails can replace your lost hydration.

Hydration jellies. No one likes to feel sloshy, especially at the beach, the pool, or on a run. Hydration jellies deliver the electrolytes and water your body needs without forcing you to guzzle down a Bubba Keg of water.

Gazpacho. Soup is a summertime food, as long as it’s chilled! From the classic Andalusian Gazpacho to strawberry soup that’s basically a dessert, gazpacho remains a filling, hydrating side dish to compliment meals.

Ice. Simple in theory but effective in practice: notwithstanding any dental issues that would negatively affect you, try chomping on some ice if you’re leaving the house during a particularly hot day. Like the sensation of gum, you’ll chew on something that provides hydration, which in turn helps your body to cool!

Sources:

“Gazpacho: The Ultimate Guide to Spain’s Most Iconic Cold Soup,” travelcookeat.com, May 7, 2026.

“About Water and Healthier Drinks,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cdc.gov, March 5, 2026.

“Staying Hydrated, Staying Healthy,” American Heart Association, heart.org, accessed 2026.