This App Is the Easiest Way to Stay Hydrated This Summer
In news that will surprise exactly no one, we’re here to declare that you have to stay hydrated during the hot summer months. Groundbreaking, we know. But as simple and obvious as it may seem, so many of us opt for a second round of our favorite rosé without so much as a sip of water when we’re out with friends, which leaves us feeling super dehydrated — ugh. And while the medical community hasn’t yet agreed on just how much water we should be drinking every day, they do agree that even getting mildly dehydrated can lead to fatigue, confusion, headaches, impaired mood, dizziness, and even kidney stones. There are lots of ways to drink more water without even knowing it, and now there’s even an app, Pee & See (free on iOS), to remind you to drink more water throughout the day. Basically, you now have no excuse not to stay hydrated all summer long, whether you’re headed to adult summer camp or just hanging out at home. We chatted with Pee & See founder John Ganotis to learn how his app works, and even got a hot hydration tip from LIVE Soda CEO Trevor Ross.
Pee & See — your new bathroom bff
Get reminded to pee every three hours. Ganotis kept his hydration app super simple on purpose — no one wants to think too hard about drinking more water (or peeing, for that matter). You just have to “tap a button every time you go to the bathroom, and then get a notification reminding you to drink water if it’s been three hours since you peed,” he explains. It’s seriously that simple. He chose the three-hour mark because “there had to be a good balance between providing a useful reminder and annoying people with too many reminders too soon.”
New hydration habits are on the way! “The reminder to drink water after three hours is not intended to indicate someone is dehydrated, but simply to make someone more in tune with his or her body,” Ganotis says. He told us the app even has users with medical conditions that prevent their bodies from alerting them when they need to go to the bathroom. It’s an easy, effective, and non-intrusive way to build better hydration habits, whether you’re at work, on vacation, or running errands.
Export your pee data. Yes, really. Ganotis says he was hearing from his users that they wanted a way to log their pee breaks for their doctors, so you can easily export your log as a CSV file.
4 fun (and easy) ways to stay hydrated
1. You can kombucha. Sure, water is obviously the best (and healthiest) drink choice, but sometimes you need something a little more exciting. That’s where things like matcha, herbal tea, green juice, and even kombucha come into play. Ross explains that “a fermented product like kombucha contains naturally occurring electrolytes and enzymes, which can help you stay hydrated in the summer, as well as a small amount of caffeine to help prevent the summer heat from getting you down.” Plus, LIVE Soda kombucha is formulated to taste just like your favorite sodas (which are decidedly dehydrating!). We’re particularly obsessed with the Pure Doctor and Root Beer flavors.
2. Get sparkly. It’s no secret that we love La Croix sparkling water. It’s super tasty, refreshing, and easy to take with you wherever you’re going for the day. Stock up next time you’re at the grocery store so you’ve always got cans on hand. We also recommend squeezing fresh blueberries, strawberries, and limes into plain sparkling water for a seasonally festive treat.
3. Wine glasses rule. And not just for wine, obvi. Try putting your water into a fun glass, whether it’s a wine glass, vintage goblet, or coupe. It’ll make you feel like you’re drinking something special, even if it’s a simple glass of cold H2O.
4. Eat your fruits and veggies. Honestly, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, watermelon, and lettuce are basically just water. So when you’re going to be outside or are just feeling beat from the heat, opt for salad and a side of melon for lunch. It won’t weigh you down and will score you an extra serving of water without even trying.
What’s your favorite tip to stay hydrated during the summer? Tweet us @BritandCo and let us know how you quench your thirst!
(Photo via Getty)
