It’s important to stay hydrated during the heatwave (Image: Uma Shankar sharma via Getty Images)
People across the UK may want to add one simple ingredient to their drinking water amid the heatwave, as it could help you keep better-hydrated.
With temperatures high across the country, the NHS is reminding people to drink plenty of water, even when they are not particularly thirsty.
Some posts on social media suggest adding salt to water, to replenish electrolytes. However, this can be harmful, according to the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
A recent post from the BDA explains that adding salt will increase your sodium intake and “canactually worsen dehydration and in extreme cases, strain your kidneys or affect heart rhythm”.
If you do want to add a helpful ingredient to your water, though, cucumber could be an excellent choice. Not only does adding cucumber give your water some flavour, potentially helping you to drink more, the fruit delivers antioxidants.
Moreover the potassium content in cucumber can help regulate the amount of sodium retained by the kidneys, according to Healthline. Cucumber water also supports healthy skin, and cucumbers contain vitamin K – which helps form proteins that are needed to make healthy bones and tissues as well as to help your blood clot properly.
That said, a minimal amount of cucumber won’t make much difference. Half a cup contains just 19% of the recommended daily vitamin K intake.
If you want to boost your hydration further, try eating water-rich foods, such as cucumber, as well as drinking your water. Other water-rich foods include watermelon, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, and oranges.
Some people choose to take pre-packaged electrolyte sachets or drinks during hot weather, or after exercise. While experts suggest most healthy adults don’t need these, there has been a huge boom in popularity of late.
Sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and magnesium are all electrolytes that our bodies need to function.
Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine told the BBC that “electrolyte drinks are not inherently more hydrating than water for the average person”.
Nutritionist Kerry Torrens added that most people can cope with hotter weather simply by drinking more fluids and eating water-rich foods.
She says increasing fluid intake and “eating foods with a high water content, such as fruit and salads, is enough to meet any extra hydration needs”.
Foods high in electrolytes include spinach, kale, avocado, potatoes, beans, almonds, tofu, and strawberries.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
