Top 12 Hydrating Foods

It’s no secret that hydration is one of the most important aspects of health. Water is not only necessary to sustain life, but it keeps every cell in your body working properly. It aids in digestion, helps to flush out toxins, keeps your skin looking beautiful, and generally keeps you feeling your best. Besides guzzling down that H2O, there are lots of delicious foods that have a high water content and can keep your body cool and full of healthy hydration throughout the warmer months.

Top 12 Hydrating Foods

Watermelon - With a fluid content of 92%, this fruit is essential for preventing dehydration, one juicy bite at a time. Watermelon also contains plenty of antioxidant-rich vitamins, including vitamin A, B6, B1 and C. Also one cup of watermelon has only 48 calories

Cucumbers - Its low caloric output makes it an ideal food for dieters, containing only 13 calories per cup. Aside from its naturally hydrating content, cucumbers also contain vitamin C, dehydration-busting potassium and dietary fibre, which regulate the digestive system. The flesh of cucumbers also contains caffeic acid which helps soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling - which is why cucumbers are often used to help swollen eyes and sunburn.

Tomatoes - This food is best eaten raw for its water-rich content, which accounts for 95% of its mass. It's also great for skin health with its large content of vitamin C. In addition it contains plenty of lycopene, an antioxidant only found in tomato-based foods that may reduce your cancer risk.

Grapes -It's obvious this fruit is packed with dehydration-busting fluids, but what's not as obvious is its nutrient content. On average, grapes contain anywhere from 5 to 21%of the vitamins B1, B2, B6, C and K, with 191 milligrams of potassium. Grapes also contain an antioxidant called resveratrol, which has been shown to reduce the risk for cancer and lower blood sugar in animal

Mixed Green Salad - Most lettuce greens contain 94% water, making it a low-energy density food. In other words, you'll feel fuller on fewer calories and lose weight faster.

Courgettes - With 95%water by weight, courgettes are one of the most hydrating vegetables you can eat. A healthy serving has less than 25 calories and is an excellent source of folic acid, potassium, and vitamins A and C.

Pear - Beyond their sweet, refreshing taste, one medium pear contains 6 grams of dietary fibre, or 24% of the daily recommended value. Plus, the type of fibre found in pears (soluble fibre) helps you feel full for a longer period of time, which means it can help you lose weight.

Pineapple - This exceptionally juicy fruit is not only full of water but it is also packed with bromelain, a mixture of compounds with potent anti-inflammatory powers. In other words, eat pineapple now and you may avoid pain meds in the future.

Carrots - Carrots contain about 87% water and more of the powerful antioxidant beta-carotene than any other vegetable or fruit. Studies have found that compounds in carrots also help protect again skin, lung and oral cavity cancers

Apples - You've heard it before: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But this juicy superfood has also been linked to lower cholesterol levels, weight loss and preventing a host of chronic health woes -cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, and even certain cancers

Yogurt - When you become dehydrated, your body loses electrolytes in addition to water. Since yogurt has a substantial amount of potassium and sodium, it can help replace the lost electrolytes and re-energize your body. Stick to natural yogurt for the full health benefits

Strawberries - Make a habit of snacking on these hydrating berries (they're 92% water). Studies show that people who eat one serving of strawberries per day tend to have higher blood levels of the B vitamin folic acid, which helps keep arteries clear. Stick to organic however as according to a 2010 study from Washington State University, organic strawberries are more nutritious and flavourful than those that are grown through chemical-laden farming.

Remember

If you’re hydrating, avoid caffeine at all costs. Caffeine comes in various liquid products, like coffee, teas, fizzy drinks and energy drinks. Liquid fights dehydration, but caffeine is often said to be a diuretic that dehydrates you even if you drink it.