The Healthiest People We Know Share Their No. 1 Hydrating Drink For Summer

I love to infuse waters to make delicious flavors while amping up the health benefits. Lemon (include the peel) contains de-limonene1, which is good for our body's liver health, while cucumber with the skin adds silica2, which is good for our skin. Raspberries add ellagic acid3, which helps fight cancer and boost the immune system.

—Isabel Smith, R.D., founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition

I love incorporating cucumber slices into a pitcher of water to have something extra hydrating on hand during the hot summer months. Not only does this add a cooling and refreshing flavor, but cucumber is a good source of vitamins and minerals, therefore adding a nutritional boost to what would be plain water. Plus, I feel like I am sipping at a spa!

I am seriously digging the ketotarian-approved line of drinks from Rebbl. These delicious drinks are naturally low in sugar; rich in healthy, clean plant fats; and spiked with superfoods and herbs. My favorites are the new Yerba Mate Mint Latte and their Reishi Cold Brew with MCT oil.

One of my favorite cold drinks to sip all summer long is Watermelon Agua Fresca. You simply blend watermelon chunks until smooth and strain (optional). Pour watermelon juice into a glass and top it off with seltzer water and some lime! So hydrating, and so delicious!

In warm weather, many people reach for sports drinks, but most of them are full of chemicals, sugar or corn syrup, and dyes—hardly what I would consider healthy. I'm a huge fan of LMNT electrolyte drink mix instead. It has the perfect combination of sodium, potassium, and magnesium to rejuvenate your body after a hard workout or a long night out—without the 2,900 mg of sugar found in popular sports drinks.

Blend seedless watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew in a blender with ice and garnish with fresh mint or basil. It uses produce before it goes to waste and it's filled with a ton of hydration and electrolytes. You're also still getting the fiber from the melon, so you'll get a sense of satiety.

We sweat out salts in the heat, and one of those salts is magnesium. Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle cramps and lethargy, so it is important to keep magnesium levels up, especially in the summer. I like Pure Essence Ionic Fizz Magnesium Plus, which is a magnesium and nutrient supplement powder you can add to just about any beverage. I used it with plain old ice water, and it has a nice "fizz" to it that is very refreshing (and good for my body, too!), especially on hot days, or post-workout.

I love the Vital Proteins Collagen Water for an easy collagen hit when I'm on the go.

Right now I am obsessed with iced oat straw tea. I just boil oat straw with filtered water, and then put it in my refrigerator over ice and sip on it all day long. I add some liquid stevia in it to sweeten it up (alcohol-free stevia, of course). Some also call it "the chill pill," and I do feel it really chills me out!

Iced green tea is one of my favorite summer drinks. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, specifically catechins, which science suggests may be protective against various chronic diseases. Squeeze in the juice from a lemon wedge, or add in a teaspoon of honey if you prefer to sweeten it up. Just make sure you're using an organic tea brand to guarantee the leaves haven't been sprayed with carcinogenic herbicides.

—Leah Silberman, R.D., co-founder of Tovita Nutrition

Iced green tea or iced herbal tea. Green tea is lower in caffeine, can boost metabolism, and is high in antioxidants. Herbal iced tea is a great option if you're sensitive to caffeine or want something refreshing to drink later in the day, fruit flavors like passion fruit or berry will provide a little sweetness without the sugar. If you don't have time to brew iced tea, put a tea bag in your cold water for something in a pinch; let it sit in the sun for a bit, or a sunny window, and you've got a delicious drink!

In Chinese Medicine, there's generally a recommendation away from cold food and drinks, so in certain ways, the healthiest cold drink is some warm bone broth or herbal tea. When I do want a refreshing cold drink in the summer, here's my go-to: I like naturally carbonated spring water, with a splash of organic lemon juice, and a few functional add-ons. Sometimes I'll add a splash of apple cider vinegar to support my digestion, my gut microbiome, and the liver's detoxification mechanisms. Other times I'll add a little gray Celtic sea salt to replenish minerals that get depleted in the sweaty summer months. If I have it in the fridge, a little crushed mint is the best.

Herbal infusions! Basically it's a fancy way of making iced tea with herbal teas, herbs, flowers, and spices. My philosophy is why not add in extra antioxidants while you hydrate? Our clients love making big batches of herbal infusions on the weekend to last them a few days or all week depending on how quickly they drink them. You can make herbal infusions using peppermint, ginger, hibiscus, rose, lemon, nettle, etc.—the possibilities are endless.