It's so important to be sure you're getting enough water every day. Not doing so can negatively impact almost every aspect of your health including your mental sharpness and emotional balance.
While drinking plain water is a sure-fire way to get that vital moisture into your system, you can also boost your hydration with the foods you eat. During the summer, people often need to take in more water than they do during the winter, and focusing on adding water-rich foods to your diet is a great way to do that. Below are some high water content foods to consider.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are almost 97% water, which is exceptionally high. Add it to salads, eat it sliced up as a snack, or make chilled cucumber soup.
Watermelon
Eating watermelon during the summer can be a great way to boost your hydration. It also has lots of other nutrients including antioxidants that are beneficial for your overall health.
Strawberries
Strawberries are one of summer's greatest treats, and they're juicy because they're full of water. Slice them and add them to salads to add a bit of sweetness, make a smoothie with them, or eat them whole for a refreshing, tasty snack.
You can boost your water consumption by adding watermelon, strawberries, or cucumber to your water and letting it soak for a while before drinking it.
Iceberg Lettuce
While this type of lettuce doesn't pack the vitamin and fiber punch of darker greens like spinach and kale, it is high in water. Add it to your sandwiches, mix it with darker greens in your salad, or dice it and add it to tuna or chicken salad for an extra crunch and some extra hydration.
Celery
Crunchy and delicious, celery is also high in water. It also contains many other nutrients that are beneficial to good health, so make it a habit of munching on some every day, especially during the summer.
Radishes
People often forget about this vegetable, but it's a fun addition to summer salads and veggie trays. It adds a tiny bit of spice, and it's high in water. It also looks beautiful in your summer dishes.
Tomatoes
You can add them to salads, sandwiches, and all kinds of other summer dishes, and tomatoes will increase your water consumption. They're also packed with other nutrients like lycopene which are good for your health. All varieties are good for you, so you can pop some cherry tomatoes into your lunch for a fun treat that can replace chips or other snack foods.
Yogurt
Yogurt is high in sodium and potassium, both of which are lost when you are dehydrated. Eating yogurt can help replenish those electrolytes for you. Choose plain yogurt without extra sugar and add other hydrating foods like strawberries if you'd like a burst of flavor.
Other Good Hydrating Foods
Some other foods that are relatively high in water content that can help you stay hydrated this summer include:
- Pineapple
- Green, red, yellow, and orange peppers
- Berries
- Apples
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
So the next time you're at the grocery store, load up on these foods and enjoy a well-hydrated summer.