When things start to heat up, you remember to slip on your hat and sunglasses, but do you forget to grab that one key accessory - a water bottle - to help you stay hydrated? With rising temps and increased activity (especially outdoors), it's crucial to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water. Drinking water reduces bloat and helps your skin stay sultry. It also helps you avoid that mid-day energy slump.
 
Although plain water and seltzer are the best zero calorie hydrators, other beverages including low fat milk, 100% fruit juice, coffee, tea, diet sodas, sports drinks, and flavored waters can also help you meet your daily fluid quota (though it's never a good idea to rely or overload on caffeinated or calorie-laden sugary beverages to stay hydrated). And you don't need to drown in liquids - you can meet about 20 percent of your fluid needs by loading up on water-rich fruits and veggies in season (including chilled salads like gazpacho) and cooked whole grains (like oatmeal).
 
The Institute of Medicine recommends ~11 cups of water for women and ~16 cups for men from foods and beverages combined.  That means women should drink about 9 cups of fluid and men about 13 cups of fluid each day (pregnant and nursing women need more, as do athletes). So what are you waiting for? Drink up!