Stay Hydrated

with High-Water-Content Foods

Summer may be over, yet it’s still hot outside and we tend to neglect our hydration when we get busy. Our bodies are 60% water, and every system we have depends on water. Water is important for healthy skin, hair, and nails, and it controls our body temperature, eliminates toxins, and helps our heart rate and blood pressure. Still, many people are not properly hydrated, which can cause fatigue, moodiness, and headaches.

What many people do not know is that many foods and drinks are a good source for water and that 20% of our water intake comes from food. You can stay fully hydrated during the day by not only drinking water, but by eating foods that are hydrating. Fruit can be an excellent source for extra hydration; for example, watermelon is 90% water. Other fruits that are good as water sources are oranges, grapefruit, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Vegetables are not as full of water yet they are also a nutrient-rich water source. Stick with broccoli, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, jicama, beets, carrots, and Romaine lettuce. Some hidden sources for water are yogurt, soup, smoothies, and oatmeal.

Parents tell their kids to avoid soda since it is all bad, yet it can still be a little hydrating, and juices or sports drinks are full of sugar yet can also be hydrating. The myth that coffee and tea are dehydrating has been disproven over the years, so go ahead and have that second cup of coffee. Alcohol is a big dehydrator, so limit your intake, and drink a glass of water after ever drink.

Before starting any new health related treatment or supplement, please consult your doctor.

by Irene Marshall