With summer here, vacations and sports training are starting to heat up. Many students will go to the beach and participate in athletic training throughout the summer.

Temperatures in the Mississippi summertime typically run in the 90s, causing a very hot and rough summer for most students. For both athletes and nonathletes, hydration is essential during the scorching summer heat.

It is best to drink half of your body weight in ounces, so that you are best hydrated. Say that you were to weigh 150 pounds, you would need to drink 9 cups of water per day to stay hydrated.

For athletes, summer can be exhausting; hydration is key. Dehydration can impair an athlete’s performance in most sports. It is important to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water before and during athletic events. Drink water every day and alternate the intake of sports drinks and water.

A refreshing beverage after a long workout could be a cup of chocolate milk, as suggested by nutritionist Rebecca Turner. Chocolate milk contains the needed nutrients such as protein, calcium, vitamin d, and potassium which some adults and children lack.

Dehydration is caused when more water is lost than the amount of water taken in the body. This can lead to fever, unconsciousness, confusion, and rapid breathing.

Hydration is important all times of the year, but more cases of dehydration occur during the summer season when the temperature is so intense. The human body needs water and makes it very hard and nearly impossible to adapt to dehydration. It thickens the blood, causing your heart rate to increase and blood pressure to fall.

Losing just 2% of a person’s body weight in fluids can affect their performance, whether it be going about your day, or performing in sports. This summer, keep your bottles full and your water ready.