Don’t let this be you.  Stay hydrated to maintain peak performance this summer.

 What do you drink to keep cool and hydrated during the summer?

Hello fitness enthusiasts!  My last four posts at Share It Fitness have been dedicated to helping you think about your diet critically in your quest for better health and bodies. In case you missed those and want to check them out, here are the links:

• Recalibrate the way you think about your diet
• Get a better handle on your diet by  measuring what you’re eating;
• To clean up your diet, clean out your house; and
• Tips to help you differentiate between science and anti-science when you are looking for dietary advice.

I have one final piece in the series. You can’t wait, I know, but, hey, at least baseball is involved. I’ll get to that next time, because today I’m writing about a very important topic: hydration. The article was in part instigated by last week’s heat wave here on the east coast, underscoring the need to keep hydrated during warmer temps.

Now, I’m not going to cover that topic in depth from a nutritional perspective (e.g., hydration for endurance athletes, risk of water intoxication, electrolyte balance, etc.). I touch upon the topic lightly, sure, but the point of the post is to share with you my favorite go-to, summertime beverage to keep me hydrated in a healthy, tasty way. In my opinion, it’s the best summertime beverage ever. And just for the record, I actually hate it when people say “This is the best ever!” It seems so tenth-grade-teenage-girl and kind of annoying, right? But it really just fits the sentiment this time. This drink is in my fridge all summer long – and, honestly, oftentimes in the winter, too. I love it, it costs pennies to make, and has no calories.

And no, it’s not water.

So what is it, you ask? Click here to find out. You can check out some of my other berry-related posts this week, too, if you like. I’ve been on a berry kick – as you’ll see from my new cover photo – since they’re finally in season here in Boston. (That’s your hint, by the way.) I’ve also been mixing up some great summer cocktails. Um, speaking of non-hydration libations. Hey, it can’t be about working out all the time, right?

Anyhow, check out the article, and let me know what your favorite drink is to keep hydrated in the summer!

Dr. P.K. Newby is a guest blogger who writes about food, nutrition, science, cooking and health to help bring science-based dietary advice to your plates – and cups! – in delectable ways. Subscribe to her blog at The Nutrition Doctor is In the Kitchen, become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, or check out her food porn on Pinterest.