With summer upon us, it is important to stay cool as temperatures soar. There is no better way to do this than by drinking plenty of water. If your body is not provided with enough water, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can become an issue. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…actually, 64 oz are worth a pound of cure – 64 oz of water that is.
However, drinking 64 oz of water every day can be a cumbersome chore. Wouldn’t it be niceto have a way to ensure that our bodies stayed well hydrated, without really working at it? Well, there is a way…drink your water, but EAT it too! Roughly 20% of our daily water intake comes from solid foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
Here are 10 examples of foods that are worth their weight in gold when it comes to their water content. You need to eat anyway, so why not try these great options to ensure that you stay as hydrated as possible, and beat the heat!!
Cucumber: 96.7 % water – this summer veggie, which has the highest water content of any solid food, is perfect in salads, or sliced up and served with hummus.
Iceberg lettuce: 95.6 % water – When it comes to water content, crispy iceberg lettuce has the highest of any lettuce, followed by butterhead, green leaf and romaine varieties.
Celery: 95.4% water – Celery contains folate and vitamins A, C, and K. Thanks in part to its high water content, celery neutralizes stomach acid and is often recommended as a natural remedy for heartburn and acid reflux.
Radishes: 95.3% water – AND more importantly, they’re filled with antioxidants such as catechin (also found in green tea).
Tomatoes: 94.5% water – Don’t forget about sweet cherry and grape varieties, which make an excellent hydrating snack too!
Green peppers: 93.9% water – Bell peppers of all shades have a high water content, but green peppers lead the pack, just edging out the red and yellow varieties (which are about 92% water). And contrary to popular belief, green peppers contain just as many antioxidants as their slightly sweeter siblings.
Cauliflower: 92.1% water – In addition to having lots of water, these unassuming florets are packed with vitamins and phytonutrients that have been shown to help lower cholesterol and fight cancer, including breast cancer.
Watermelon: 91.5% water – This juicy melon is also among the richest sources of lycopene, a cancer-fighting antioxidant found in red fruits and vegetables. In fact, watermelon contains more lycopene than raw tomatoes!
Spinach: 91.4% water – Spinach is also rich in lutein, potassium, fiber, and brain-boosting folate – just one cup of raw leaves contains 15% of your daily intake of vitamin E.
Strawberries: 91.0% water – All berries are good foods for hydration, but juicy red strawberries are easily the best of the bunch. Raspberries and blueberries both hover around 85% water, while blackberries are only slightly better at 88.2%.
Limit your caffeine and sugar consumption as well, for an even bigger hydration boost, since both caffeine and sugar can rob you of your water.