It’s going to get HOT here in the UK today, so I’ve put together a reminder of everything you probably already know about keeping cool, but may not think of.

The first one is about the best way to hydrate.

Plain water isn’t the most hydrating beverage around, according to a study from Scotland’s St. Andrews University that compared the hydration responses of several different drinks.

The researchers found that while water does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.

The reason has to do with how our bodies respond to beverages. One factor is the volume of a given drink: The more you drink, the faster the drink empties from your stomach and gets absorbed into the bloodstream, where it can dilute the body’s fluids and hydrate you. Read the full article here

My tip – If you’ve got any oral rehydration solutions that are used to treat diarrhoea, these contain small amounts of sugar, as well as sodium and potassium, which can also help promote water retention in the body. Drink one or more of these today (check the maximum dose on the packet).

Or you can add a sprinkle of salt & sugar to your water. A splash of fruit juice or cordial is also another good option.

My recipe here for Lemon, Mint & Cucumber Water

Recipe here for Indian Style Lemonade!