It’s no secret that hydration is important to living things. You need to be hydrated to feel and function your best. In fact, many common ailments like chronic headaches, lack of focus, and sleepiness can actually be red flags for simple dehydration.

Stay hydrated, healthy, and wide-awake this summer without cracking open a sugary soda or extra-large coffee. Try our top four healthiest ways to remain hydrated, and make these practices a habit:

1)   Eat raw fruits and vegetables. Along with a tall glass of water, munch on summer snacks and meals that will help replenish your fluids. Go raw for the maximum amount of water retained within the fruit or veggie. Foods with the highest percentage of water in …

Are hydration and health on your radar screen? Scan our water lexicon to brush up on must-know terms in the water glossary.

Alkaline water: Alkaline water is water that’s been given a negative charge using electrolysis created by platinum coated titanium electrodes (plates). The opposite of acidic water, the resulting alkaline water counteracts the acid in many American diets and adds healthy antioxidants to the body. It also enhances the body’s internal pH to a more alkaline state (6.9-7.2).

Acidic water: Water ionizers produce both types of water at opposite ends of the water spectrum (alkaline and acidic), and both are useful. Acidic water, while not for ingesting, has hundreds of uses: cleaning, disinfecting, gargling as a mouthwash, relieving minor …

Every day, you should consume antioxidants, those natural fighters of free radicals and disease, which we all could probably use more of.  Antioxidants protect your body’s cells from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other immune problems, so it’s a good idea to intentionally squeeze them into your diet (unlike soda or sodium!).

For some sneaky ways to get more antioxidants into your body and to maximize your health benefits from them, try these five antioxidant-rich tips.

Image credit: www.slashfood.com.

1. Brighter is better. At the grocery store, but can’t remember which foods have the most antioxidants? Go for the fruits and veggies with the brightest colors. Blueberries, watermelon, tomatoes, and corn are each vibrantly-hued foods that are full of antioxidants.