I just spent a week in Scottsdale, Arizona. In July. Two years ago I was in Palm Springs, California at the same time of year.
Both times, it was 122°F outside.
Not “feels like.”
Actually 122 degrees.
I’ve always considered myself pretty tolerant of heat. I grew up in South Florida. I garden on a 16th floor balcony. I spend plenty of time outdoors. I know the importance of hydration.
But this was different.
You could feel the heat radiating off the sidewalks before you even stepped onto them. Walking across a parking lot felt like opening an oven door and standing inside.
What fascinated me wasn’t that it was hot. (I expected that!)
It was that some places were perfectly comfortable while others were almost unbearable.
The difference wasn’t bigger air conditioners.
It wasn’t giant fans.
It was water.
Almost every restaurant, shopping center, and outdoor patio that had professional misting systems was surprisingly pleasant. You could sit outside, eat lunch, and actually enjoy yourself. Walk twenty feet away, and suddenly it felt like the desert again.
Naturally, I started asking why.
As someone who’s spent years studying natural health, I couldn’t help myself.
Your Body Was Designed to Cool Itself
The amazing thing is that your body already has its own cooling system.
Sweat.
Most people think sweat cools us because it’s wet.
That’s only half the story.
Sweat cools us because it evaporates.
As that water changes from liquid to vapor, it carries heat away from your skin.
That’s exactly why those misting systems worked so well in Scottsdale.
They weren’t making the air dramatically colder.
They were helping the body’s own cooling system become more efficient.
The Los Angeles Times recently interviewed heat researchers from UCLA who explained that lightly misting your skin or placing ice in front of a fan can dramatically improve cooling because the moisture evaporates directly from your skin.
The World Health Organization recommends many of these same techniques during extreme heat, including damp cloths, cool showers, and misting exposed skin to enhance evaporative cooling.
Sometimes nature already figured it out.
The Fan Isn’t Always Your Friend
One of the biggest surprises from my research was learning that fans aren’t always the answer.
When temperatures climb into the 90s and beyond, a fan blowing extremely hot air across your skin can actually increase your body’s heat load instead of lowering it.
That’s why those misting systems felt so different.
The moisture changed everything.
Instead of simply moving hot air around, they created evaporation.
That’s real cooling.
Hydration Isn’t Just About Drinking More
This experience also reminded me of something I talk about with people all the time.
Hydration isn’t simply about drinking more water.
It’s about whether your body can actually use the water you’re drinking.
Most of us have heard the advice to drink eight glasses a day.
Personally, I think that’s an oversimplification.
If you’re constantly dehydrated despite drinking plenty of water and find drinking water to be a chore, not a pleasure, it may be worth looking beyond quantity and considering overall water quality, your mineral balance, your activity level, your diet, and the environment you’re living in.
At ImmerHealth, that’s one reason I’m passionate about helping people improve the quality of the water they’re consuming every single day.
Our bodies are made up of roughly 60% water. Our brains have an even higher water concentration.
It makes sense that the quality of that water matters.
Internal Hydration Starts at the Source 💧
For everyday drinking, I prefer hydrogen-rich alkaline water.
Emerging research suggests molecular hydrogen may help reduce oxidative stress generated during exercise and environmental stressors. While research is still developing, it’s one of the reasons I choose hydrogen-rich water for myself.
Notice I didn’t say it magically hydrates better.
Hydration is influenced by many factors including electrolytes, sodium, potassium, magnesium, kidney function, and how much fluid you’re losing through sweat.
But I believe the quality of the water you choose is part of the bigger wellness picture. Because, it’s not just about drinking water, it’s also about how you clean your home, the quality of your bathing and showering, how your pets and plants hydrate, and so much more.
Just like eating an organic salad isn’t only about calories, drinking water isn’t only about ounces.
Your Skin Needs Hydration Too
One thing I couldn’t stop noticing in Arizona was how quickly my skin dried out. Admittedly, I did not bring my machine with me on this trip so was drinking distilled water, which was highly unsatisfying.
Dry air doesn’t just make you thirsty.
It pulls moisture from your skin.
This is another place where water quality matters.
Healthy hair and skin naturally maintains a slightly acidic surface known as the acid mantle.
Many soaps and harsh cleansers temporarily disrupt that protective barrier.
Using mildly acidic water as part of a skincare routine can help support your skin’s natural environment without adding fragrances or unnecessary ingredients.
It’s one of the simplest things I use for my face, especially after spending time in extreme heat.
Sometimes skincare doesn’t need another complicated product.
Sometimes it starts with better water.
Don’t Forget About What’s In Your Water
Hydration isn’t just about what water contains.
It’s also about what it doesn’t.
Removing unwanted contaminants can be just as important as adding beneficial minerals.
If you’re asking your body to stay cool, repair tissue, regulate temperature, and support every organ system, giving it cleaner water simply makes sense.
Sometimes the Old Ways Still Win
To be honest, this research made me happier with my decision to upgrade my water routine and let life stay simpler in general.
The NPR article I read was filled with readers sharing the same advice our grandparents probably would have given.
- Open the windows at night
- Close the curtains before sunrise
- Use damp towels
- Sit under trees
- Cool your neck
- Take cool showers
- Build shade
- Use porches
- Slow down during the hottest hours
None of those ideas require expensive technology.
However, water quality is not what it was decades ago, so it’s worth considering upgrading your water life.
In general, these things are practical because they work.
My Biggest Takeaway
Standing in 122-degree heat reminded me that wellness doesn’t have to be complicated.
Our bodies already know how to cool themselves.
Our skin already knows how to protect itself.
Our cells already know how to use water.
Our job is to give them the best environment possible.
That means seeking shade before exhaustion.
Cooling your skin before overheating.
Choosing cleaner water.
Supporting hydration from the inside and the outside.
And remembering that sometimes the simplest solutions are still the smartest ones.
At ImmerHealth, that’s what we believe.
Always, Health.
You control your wellness. 💙
