There's more than one way to stay hydrated-- you don't have to rely on water entirely. As humans, we need water to survive, but drinking the liquid alone isn't all your body needs to stay hydrated. Another way to hydrate your body is from the foods you consume. Keeping this in mind can help when its hot outside, and you begin to lose water while sweating. Thankfully, you don't have to sweat it when it comes to figuring out which healthful foods to consume that contain a high hydration level-- here are the foods with the highest water content.
Add Cucumbers To Your Meals
This list will feature plenty of the long green vegetables that help keep you hydrated, but none are as potent as a cucumber. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), cucumber has a water content of 96.73%.
Outside of being an excellent water source, they also contain potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and even calcium. In the summer, add a kick to your beverage by cutting cucumber into slices and letting them sit in your water for a few hours before consuming.
It Even Has 'Water' In The Name
There aren't many fruits as juicy and tasteful as watermelon. Sure, it can be difficult to cut them into the proper sizes and shapes, but they're well worth the hassle once you consume them.
The USDA has watermelons coming in at 91.45% water content level, which is not far from cucumbers. Outside of water, the tasty fruit contains vitamin B, C, A, zinc, copper, and potassium. Next summer BBQ, make sure you eat as much as you can before it's gone!
Even The Prince Likes Carrots
With the USDA ranking the water content of carrots at 88.29%, you're in for a ton of benefits when you consume Bugs Bunny's favorite snack. These vegetables contain a high amount of vitamin A.
You can also find them in colors such as white or purple. Expect to receive a great amount of folate, fiber, potassium, and vitamin K when you eat a carrot. Their benefits go a long way.
Don't Forget To Eat Your Broccoli
Baby trees or broccoli is one of the most helpful and hydrating vegetables there is. You might not think of them first when considering what foods can hydrate you, but you should start to look at broccoli in that light.
With a water content of 89.3%, you can't go wrong munching on these baby trees. With a few different antioxidants and a great source of fiber, potassium, and both vitamin K and C, it wouldn't hurt implementing broccoli into your diet.
The Sweet Sensation That Is A Cantaloupe
Did you know that cantaloupe is also known as muskmelon? Besides that fun fact, they're also 90.15% water and a whole bunch of sweetness that can satisfy any sweet tooth craving you might have.
High in vitamin C and fiber, a muskmelon makes for a perfect summer snack. Much like carrots, a cantaloupe is orange, which means it contains beta carotene, the substance your body converts to vitamin A. Now, we're sure you'll enjoy eating your muskmelon even more next time!
Sip The Skim Milk
It's called skim milk for a reason. You aren't getting the same level of nutrients when you drink this product. You can enjoy having a glass on its own, or it can be a useful product for cooking and cereal.
With a water content of 90.84%, skim milk is also an excellent source of vitamin D, and calcium (go figure). Consuming skim milk is an excellent way to remain hydrated if you want to add another beverage to the mix instead of water.
Pineapples Have A Ton Of Benefits
One of the more juicier fruits out there, don't become surprised when a stream of liquid gushes out when you bite into a piece of pineapple. They're loaded with nutrition, including potassium, manganese, vitamin C, B, and magnesium.
If that isn't enough for you, pineapple has a water content level of 86%. Another cool fact is that they carry bromelain, which is an anti-inflammatory enzyme. If you weren't a fan of pineapples, maybe these facts changed your mind.
An Apple A Day...
The saying goes, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Well that phrase originated in 1913, so don't expect to be entirely safe from going to the doctor. What you can anticipate is eating a healthy source of water (85.56% water content).
You'll be hydrated, and have a brilliant source of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Apples come in different shapes, colors, and types of crunch, but you can always expect health benefits.
Enjoy A Strawberry Or Two
Having one strawberry can easily lead to having another and then before you know it, you've eaten the whole carton. Don't worry, because you're eating a fruit containing 90.95% water content. You're basically eating a ton of hydrating fruit while getting a load of other nutrients, too.
The antioxidants inside of these red berries fight damage caused by free radicals, and you don't really find that anywhere else. Low in calories and high in fiber, you can bet you're getting plenty of benefits from strawberries.
Welcome To Kale
Kale is a nutrient-dense vegetable with a water content level of 89.63% according to the USDA. This green machine also has a high dose of vitamins A, C, and K. That alone should be enough to convince you that kale is beneficial beyond just the hydration factor.
Kale also boasts anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and is a sensational plant-based source of iron and B vitamins. Oh, and there's the fact that they contain omega-3 fatty acids. Fuel up on your kale when you can.
Hydrate With Honeydew Melon
Honeydew melon falls into the same category as a cantaloupe, so they're both muskmelons. The difference between the two lies in the color and the water content. The USDA has honeydew melon at 89.82%.
The fruit is also a great source of potassium and vitamin C and K. Eating it also serves your body some magnesium and folate goodness. One of the downfalls is that honeydew melon has a high level of sugar, but it's natural.
Hard To Go Wrong With The Green Zucchini
The zucchini is an interesting vegetable for several reasons, but mainly for its ability to help the body in a special way. What we're referring to are the antioxidants it contains like lutein and zeaxanthin.
Those antioxidants may assist in helping fight against damage to your body's DNA. Did we forget to mention that its water content is 92.73%? You can't beat that level of hydration and potential DNA help. There's also potassium and vitamins A, C, and K.
No Wonder Popeye Gets Pumped
Popeye could be in the worst fight of his life. He could be moments away from his demise, but after consuming his spinach, it's a different ball game. That's because spinach does have a handful of benefits.
It's high in fiber and low in calories, making it a guilt-free food to throw into any meal or blend up a tasty green juice. The water content level of spinach is 91.4% according to the USDA.
Iceberg Lettuce For The Win
There are several different types of lettuce (we'll get to another kind in just a bit) but the iceberg varietal is one of the best when it comes to hydration. Building a salad with a base of iceberg lettuce and topped with celery, carrots, and cucumber is almost another way to drink water.
Iceberg lettuce contains 95.64% water content according to the USDA, so you're biting H2O when you eat this. It also contains potassium, zinc, and both vitamins K and A.
Learn To Enjoy Tomatoes
They're a great addition to hamburgers, but did you know tomatoes are 94.52% water? That's as steep as they come for a fruit! It's also rich in fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamins C and K.
If you're looking for a fruit that helps against cell damage, then look no further than a tomato. It contains lycopene, which helps in that field and they're also the primary source of lycopene in the United States according to poison.org.
Bite Into A Juicy Peach
There's a reason why peaches are such a juicy fruit and its due to their 88.87% water content level. This sweet and delicious fruit also has plenty of vitamin action, including A, C, E, and K.
Not only will you get a healthy amount of hydration and vitamins, but expect to fill your body with potassium and phosphorus. Whether you're enjoying one for a snack or you're adding them into salads, you're in for a treat.
Have Your Fill Of Romaine Lettuce
We promised you another lettuce, so here it is. Romaine lettuce isn't far behind iceberg when it comes to water content, coming in at 93.47%. Compared to iceberg lettuce, romaine has more nutritional benefits.
If you're the type to base your vegetables on color, darker greens tend to be more on the healthier side. With romaine, you can expect a great dosage of fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C, and K. In general, it's hard to go wrong with greens!
Tangy At First, With A Sweet Finish
Oranges are a real pleasure of a fruit. After accidentally squirting some orange juice in your eye while peeling it, you're ready to indulge in tangy, sweet goodness! Coming in with a water content level of 86.75%, that's not a bad way to stay hydrated.
Something special about citrus fruits is that they can help in absorbing iron from other foods. Not only are they high in vitamin C, but oranges are also high in fiber.
