Up Your Hydration Game With These 10 Foods
Sometimes, water is just the last thing you feel like drinking. But in order to stay properly hydrated, you need to down at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Luckily, many fruits and veggies have a high water content and can help you get all the agua you need — no chugging necessary. So drink your water and eat it, too, with these 10 refreshing and replenishing foods.
1. Cucumber
Picture the stereotypical image of a blissed-out woman dressed in a white fluffy robe with cucumber slices over her eyes. Now you know the reasoning behind those cukes! The flesh of cucumbers is composed of mostly water but is also full of vitamin C and caffeic acid. Dermatologist Howard Murad told Allure that cucumbers can “fortify cells so they may remain hydrated and work at the highest levels.” Whether you’re eating them or putting them on your eyes, cucumbers are the key to hydration.
2. Zucchini
Eat it spiralized or sliced — either way, it’s one of the most hydrating vegetables you can consume. In fact, zucchini is 95 percent water by weight. Just try and eat this green raw because cooking zucchini can deplete some of its nutritive benefits.
3. Broccoli
You really can’t go wrong with this hearty veggie. Broccoli is 91 percent water and is a good source of calcium, fiber and vitamin C. Similar to zucchini, you’ll fare best if you eat it raw.
4. Celery
This healthy green is #goals when it comes to hydration. Stalks of celery are about 96 percent water, and they also include potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and fiber.
5. Tomatoes
Ah, the age-old food debate: Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Either way, tomatoes are the perfect hydrating food. They are approximately 94 percent water and are delicious in any form and at any time of day.
6. Cantaloupe
Don’t forget this sweet melon in your fruit salad! Cantaloupe is 90 percent water and provides a solid amount of potassium and vitamins A and C.
7. Watermelon
It’s no wonder this fruit literally has “water” in its name. Watermelon is 93 percent water and, therefore, the perfect refreshing snack. Quick tip: Blend it in your cocktail to help counteract the dehydrating impact of the alcohol.
8. Yogurt
You can start hydrating at breakfast with a serving of plain yogurt. This breakfast classic is nearly 88 percent water. For optimal hydration, go with fuller-fat options that have plenty of potassium and sodium, which will replenish your body’s electrolytes.
9. Chia Seeds
These tiny seeds have a big impact on your hydration — or lack thereof. Chia seeds absorb more than their own weight in water, meaning they also retain electrolytes that are helpful in battling dehydration. For the best hydrating snack ever, add chia seeds to your yogurt with some pieces of fresh melon.
10. Broth
This flu-fighting remedy is the ultimate hydration fix. Broths and soups are full of water, but it’s the sodium content that allows you to retain the H2O. Maybe it’s time to rethink your lunch order.
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