10 Foods to Help You Stay Hydrated

1/4/2019

Staying hydrated is a fundamental part of staying healthy.

While drinking plenty of water is the obvious way to get it done, let's not forget that eating certain foods is another.

You can actually consume a significant amount of water through a variety of water-dense fruits and vegetables into your diet, so much so that it can literally alter how much water you may need to drink in a day.

As long as you’re eating plenty of water-rich foods and drinking water along the way each day, you shouldn't have a problem staying hydrated.

Keep your body's healthy water levels high by including any/all of these 10 water-dense foods.

1. Cabbage

Water content: 92%

You Also Get: Vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, folate and several trace minerals. In addition, cabbage provides glucosinolates, which are important antioxidants.

You Want That Because: Vitamin C is known for its role in reducing inflammation while lowering the risk fo chronic disease like diabetes and heart disease, and glucosinolates are thought to help protect against certain types of cancer.

Try It: Make a slaw to accompany fish tacos, ferment into sauerkraut, chop and chomp as nighttime snack

2. Cauliflower

Water content: 92%

You Also Get: more than 15 different vitamins and minerals, including choline, which is not found in many foods

You Want That Because: Choline is an essential nutrient for supporting brain health and metabolism.

Try It: You can use cauliflower as a replacement for less-hydrating grains by chopping it finely into “rice” or using it to make a cauliflower-based pizza crust.

3. Celery

Water content: 95%

You Also Get: fiber, vitamin K, and potassium

You Want That Because: Potassium can reduce kidney-related diseases while lessening the risk of ulcers.

Try It: Celery is quite simple to incorporate celery into your diet, as it can be eaten raw or cooked. You can add it to soups and salads, or eat celery sticks along with a dip such as hummus, Greek yogurt, or peanut butter.

4. Cucumbers

Water content: 95%

You Also Get: Vitamin K, potassium, magnesium

You Want That Because: Vitamin K plays an essential role in helping blood to clot.

Try It: Another easy one to fold into the mix - cucumbers are commonly added to salads and sandwiches, and they can also be included in cooked dishes like stir-fries and soups.

5. Oranges

Water content: 88%

You Also Get: fiber, vitamin C, potassium, disease-fighting antioxidants including flavonoids, and citric acid

You Want That Because: Flavonoids may prevent cell damage by reducing inflammation; additionally, the citric acid in oranges can help protect against kidney stones

Try It:
Oranges are excellent solo snacks, or get creative and try something off the beaten path, like this Orange and Parsley salad from Martha Stewart.

6. Peaches

Water content: 89%

You Also Get: potassium and TEN (!!) vitamins, including A, C, E, K, and six of the eight B vitamins

You Want That Because: B vitamins not only help prevent infections but also support or promote: the growth of red blood cells, your energy levels, strong eyesight, healthy brain function, proper digestion, a healthy appetite, muscle tone, proper nerve function, and cardiovascular health!

Try it: Amazing by themselves, peaches are also commonly combined with smoothies and salads, or make a great addition to cottage cheese and yogurt.

7. Strawberries

Water content: 91%

You Also Get: Vitamins C and K, fiber, folic acid, potassium and manganese.

You Want That Because: Manganese is a trace mineral that your body needs for normal functioning of your brain and nervous system, as well as bone health and inflammation.

Try it: You can eat strawberries solo, blend them into smoothies, or incorporate them into salads or sandwiches. And did you know you can eat the tops, too?

8. Tomatoes

Water content: 94%

You Also Get: fiber, vitamins and minerals like vitamins A and C, and disease-figthing antioxidants like lycopene.

You Want That Because: Lycopene may lower your risk of heart disease and even prevent certain kinds of cancer.

Try it: You can enjoy tomatoes about a zillion different ways. Soups, sauces, salads, salsa...and those are just the "S" suggestions. ;) Tomatoes are also really easy to grow in a garden or in a pot - there's nothing quite as delicious as a garden-grown tomato!

9. Watermelon

Water content: 92%

You Also Get: fiber, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin A

You Want That Because: Vitamin A promotes healthy eyesight, lowers your risk of certain cancers, and supports a healthy immune system.

Try it: plain, mixed other fruits, in a salad with feta cheese and fresh mint

10. Zucchini

Water content: 94%

You Also Get: Vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, riboflavin, folate, potassium, manganese, and fiber

You Want That Because: Fiber promotes bowel health, helps you feel fuller, longer, and helps control your blood sugar levels.

Try it:To include zucchini in your diet, eat it on its own as a side dish or add it to soups, salads and stir-fries. You can also turn it into strips to create "zoodles” that you can use as an alternative to regular pasta.

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As a Self-Care Coach with an emphasis on organizing, I help busy women like you take exceptional care of their mind, body, soul, and physical space so they can confidently live meaningful lives.

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