News 12 offers tips on staying hydrated during intense heat

News 12 spoke with an expert who recommends staying hydrated throughout the day, and not waiting to feel the symptoms of dehydration.

Marissa Santorelli

Jun 22, 2024, 2:23 AM

Updated 187 days ago

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Temperatures are reaching record highs this summer, so News12 spoke with dietician Tina McGeough about which foods can help beat the heat, and which ones to avoid.
"About 20% of our water intake actually comes from fruits and vegetables" she said, "So just complimenting and adding these things will help you to meet your hydration needs."
In addition to drinking enough water, McGeough recommends prioritizing fruits and vegetables with high water content, such as celery, lettuce, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, watermelon and pineapple.
She strongly advises against processed foods and beverages.
"A lot of beverages have added sugars," McGeough adds. "Another big one is a lot of added salt. Eating a lot of salt makes you retain water and, you know, causes fluid shifts. So I think balancing that out is really important."
She also recommends staying hydrated throughout the day, and not waiting to feel the symptoms of dehydration.
She says you can do this by replacing, "the fluids that we're losing not only with water, but a lot of rich foods."