Cool ways to hydrate

Foods can also deliver much-needed water

By LESLIE GARCIA
The Dallas Morning News

Water is cooling, and not just if you submerge yourself in it. You need to drink it and, yep, eat it, too.

"On average, about 80 percent of a person's total fluid intake should be made by drinking beverages, and another 20 percent provided by food," says Julie Bender. She's a registered and licensed dietitian for Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Tom Landry Health and Wellness Center.

Think cool: cucumber, pineapple, watermelon. Really, any fruit or vegetable, she says. No, strawberry milkshakes don't count, but Popsicles and low-fat Fudgsicles do.

Another tasty way to enjoy fluids is to freeze sugar-free Kool-Aid or Crystal Light in ice-cube trays. Put them into a cup; as they melt you'll have a good source of a cold beverage.

On an I'm-going-to-die-without-liquid day, consider a glass of water. Infused water. Served in the style of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch.

Mmm. Can't you just taste it? Orange and lime in the morning. Mint and ginger at midday. Honeydew and cucumber in late afternoon.

"It's all about the balance of time," says Ann Lane, public relations director. "In the morning, you need to be invigorated and energized. Orange and lime are quite energizing.

"The midday is a balancing mode. The pieces of ginger cut up with whole mint leaves help with digestion. Your body's working at its peak, trying to digest everything.

"At 5 o'clock, the honeydew and cucumber are detoxifying; they prepare us for rest and slumber."

Spa chefs have no particular recipe for us to pass along. Just fill a pitcher with cold water, add a handful of whatever. Don't even stir. Just sip. Slowly. And see how much nicer it is to wipe condensation from a glass than sweat from your brow.

How to tell if you're getting enough? Your urine should be light-colored. If it's dark, drink up.