Houston’s hot and humid climate is beyond our control, but letting it affect our health is certainly in our own hands. One major way we can stay ahead of the heat this summer is proper hydration.

A common myth is that if you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. This is false; if you are hungry it doesn’t mean you are already starved. Your body is constantly monitoring all your levels and will tell you when the tank is nearing empty. Studies have shown that listening to your body and drinking when it tells you to is far better than drinking on a strict schedule. Be careful to not “stock up” on water as it crowds the body and will often slow down other important processes within your system.

Besides the heat and humidity, there are a number of health factors that increase the need to hydrate properly. There are many symptoms associated with dehydration that may be confused with disease processes. Very commonly headaches are attributed to poor hydration. Hunger is associated with dehydration even more commonly though. Recent studies have shown that proper hydration is very closely associated with a healthy weight (BMI). A specific study showed that a small cup of soup or glass of water before a meal resulted in a healthier proportion of consumption, leading to healthier weight levels. It’s also extremely important to know that all of our hydration does not come from strictly drinking water. Many of the foods and other beverages we consume contain water. Dehydration is also associated with fatigue, depression, nausea, dizziness and in some cases sleeplessness (insomnia).

As you can see, drinking water and getting the correct amount of hydration is crucial to a number of processes in the human body. We also know the best way to deal with correct hydration is already built into our bodies. So listen to your body and then act; a simple glass of water could be your answer to a healthier life.