10 FOODS THAT CAN HELP YOU TO STAY HYDRATED!

Many Americans are in a chronic state of dehydration. One problem is that Americans drink a lot of caffeinated beverages, which dehydrate you. They also don’t drink enough pure water. Staying hydrated is especially important during the summer, since we lose more water due to sweat.

A number of years ago, someone came up with a somewhat arbitrary recommendation of drinking 8 glasses of water per day to keep hydrated. A more recent recommendation is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number by two and that should be the number of ounces of water that you should drink per day.

We have a built in mechanism called thirst, which stimulates us to seek out water when we are slightly dehydrated. Unfortunately, this thirst mechanism is sometimes not working properly, especially with many older people. Many seniors are chronically dehydrated.

Food contains water and that water can count towards your daily water intake too! Roughly 20% of our daily water intake comes from solid foods, especially fruits and vegetables!

Water is incredibly important for a number of reasons. One of which is to eliminate soluble toxins from our bodies.

Here are some of the best hydrating foods from Food Matters:

1. Cucumbers - At 95% water content, this crunchy summer vegetable has the highest water content of any solid food! It’s great in salads, sliced up with some dip, or blending into a smoothie, juice or cucumber soup! Cucumbers also contain a little fiber and vitamin C!

2. Green Peppers - These hydrating vegetables contain 93.9% water, just slightly more than the red and yellow versions. They are also rich in antioxidants, and make a great snack with dip, sliced up in salads or stuffed with quinoa and veggies!

3. Tomatoes - Tomatoes make a delicious, hydrating snack, especially cherry tomatoes! Eat a handful as a snack or add them to your meal! They’ll provide a tasty pop of hydration plus lycopene and other vitamins and minerals.

4. Watermelon - Not only is watermelon a great source of water at 92%, it’s also a good source of vitamin C and other antioxidants. Serve icy cold for a satisfying Summertime snack!

5. Strawberries - 91% water, strawberries are a great contributor to your water intake for the day! Delivering the most vitamin C of all berries, folate, fiber and antioxidants, they’re a great little snack to enjoy! Eat them as is, with some yogurt, in a salad, blended into a smoothie or even in a raw dessert!

6. Papayas - This gorgeous fruit tastes incredible with fresh lime juice! Plus it delivers a source of fiber and hydration with 88% water! It’s also rich in vitamin C and contains the digestive enzyme known as papain along with fiber which helps improve your digestive health.

7. Grapefruit - A juicy, tangy citrus with a powerful hydrating punch! Not only does it contain 90.5% water, it can help shrink your waistline, help lower your cholesterol, stabilise your blood sugar and potentially help reduce your cravings! Eat it straight, pop some wedges into a salad, juice with greens, blend into icy poles, or serve as a tangy granita dessert!

8. Butternut Squash - The humble, sweet and nutty squash is actually 88% water. Yet it provides over 400% of your daily requirements for vitamin A, as well as being a source of vitamin C, potassium and manganese! Roast some and serve in a salad, stuff small ones with lean grassfed mince and/or quinoa and vegetables, or turn it into a tasty dip with some bell peppers, cucumber and carrots to serve!

9. Cantaloupe - One six ounce serving (about ¼ of a melon) provides 100% of your recommended intake for vitamins A and C! Comprised of 90.2% water, it’s a nourishing snack that can contribute significantly to your water intake! Serve in a smoothie, blended with frozen banana ‘icecream’, sliced in salads, or served as part of a mixed melon salad with fresh mint!

10. Radishes - It’s not the first thing you may think of when talking about hydration, but these pretty vegetables are 95.3% water! Not only are they hydrating, but they are full of antioxidants including catechin (found in green tea!), adding a nutritious burst of spiciness and color to your plate!

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