It’s important to stay well hydrated in the hot summer months upon us. It’s not just the heat that can be depleting, but also the increased humidity. Even with increased heat and humidity, it’s important to keep up your Bikram Yoga practice during the summer. It will actually help you adjust better to the temperatures outside and keep your mind and body in shape year round.

Fresh water, mineral water, herbal caffeine-free teas, and juice are all excellent ways to replenish fluids, but the foods you can eat play a big role in hydration and cooling the body down as well. Here are some examples that will help you to have your best Bikram yoga practice this summer.

Watermelon

An added bonus with this juicy fruit is that along with being rich in carotene and vitamins A and C, it’s rich in electrolytes. It’s important to replenish electrolytes after sweat-inducing exercise. Watermelon is one of the most water-dense fruits you can eat. Eat it whole or extract the juice for a yummy alternative to plain water.

Cucumber

It is 95 percent water and is perfect for snacking on, juicing, and even added to plain water to give it flavor. This cooling vegetable can also reduce swelling, like on puffy eyes, and help calm sunburn.

Mint

In an earlier post, we mentioned the powerful benefits of peppermint, one of which is it’s cooling effect on the body. You can use mint in a variety of ways to reap its benefits. Chop it up and use in salads and on other vegetables, steep the leaves to make a refreshing tea, add it to plain water, or add to fruit salads and desserts.