Time to get hydrated - June 23 is National Hydration Day

June 14, 2021

Summary

National Hydration Day takes place on Wednesday, June 23. Let’s celebrate this year by checking in on lifestyle choices around proper hydration and learning more about freshwater resources.

Why everyone should celebrate National Hydration Day

National Hydration Day was established on June 23, 2016 in honor of Coach Victor Hawkins and his invention of the electrolyte mouth guard that prevents dehydration in football players ⁽¹⁾. Proper hydration is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy and has significant health benefits, but 75% of American adults are still chronically dehydrated ⁽²⁾. This year, you and your family can have fun celebrating National Hydration Day by:

Learning about the health benefits of hydration
Setting reminders to drink water throughout the day
Replacing sugary/caffeinated drinks with homemade fruit-infused water

Hot Tip: Try these combos for deliciously refreshing, fruit-infused water. For best results, let the flavors infuse in the fridge for 2-3 hours before drinking.

Strawberry, lemon, and basil
Orange and ginger
Cucumber, lime, and mint
Watermelon and lime
Blueberry, lemon, and rosemary

Can we make more freshwater?

The best way for humans to stay hydrated is by drinking about 3 liters of water each day. But the crops that we eat and animals that we farm also require huge amounts of freshwater. Where does the water come from, and do we have enough? Almost 97% of all the water on Earth is in the oceans, which means that it is too salty to drink or use for agriculture ⁽³⁾. When natural freshwater sources like rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers aren’t available, scientists and engineers use desalination to filter out the salt from ocean water. Desalination for human use is especially promising in arid regions that rely on seasonal rainfall to fill drinking reservoirs. As we celebrate National Hydration Day this summer, let’s remind friends and family about the importance of water conservation and take a moment to be thankful for every glass of fresh water that we put into our bodies.

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