The Top 10 Water-Rich Foods That Hydrate You
Water is not the only thing that hydrates the body. You can increase your hydration with water-rich foods. In fact, hydration rich foods aid in hydration and help improve weight loss. For this reason, here are the top 10 foods that contain at least 90% water and are proven to be an excellent addition to your daily diet.
1. Cucumber
Cucumber contains about 96% water and makes for a great snack. Eat them guilt-free because they are only 16 calories for one cup, but don’t let their lack of calories fool you. Cucumbers are high in vital vitamins and minerals, making them perfect additions to your diet.
Cucumbers contain calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, and phosphorus.
2. Celery
Celery contains about 95% water. Celery is another low-calorie food that packs high benefits, and with mostly fiber, celery aids in digestion. The high fiber content is attributed to heart-healthy benefits through lowered blood pressure and cholesterol. Additionally, celery makes an easy healthy snack at 6 calories; it’s easy to crush cravings without the guilt. Pair celery with peanut butter or hummus for a filling, healthy snack.
Other notable benefits of celery include reduced inflammation, sources of antioxidants, and alkalizing effects.
3. Zucchini
About 92% of water, zucchini is another low calorie and a mighty green vegetable. At 17 calories per cup, zucchini contains about 40% of the reference dietary intake of vitamin A, which supports immunity and eye health. High in fiber, zucchini is great for your heart and stabilizes blood sugar.
4. Carrots
Another vegetable high in vitamin A, carrots contain about 90% water. These are an easy snack to curb hunger without sacrificing calories. Often paired with celery, they both are high in fiber to keep you full. But not all carrots are created equal. Baby carrots pack more water than full-sized, so small things come with significant benefits!
5. Grapefruit
Half a grapefruit contains 40 calories, but delicious benefits. At about 90% of water, grapefruit aids in weight loss. Studies show that grapefruit improves fat burning while stabilizing blood sugar, therefore reducing cravings. This lead to a 3 and 1/2 pound weight loss over three weeks.
6. Strawberries
A delicious staple to desserts and smoothies, strawberries contain about 90% water. They are known for their vibrant color and flavor, but they help your heart too. With their high fiber content and antioxidants, it’s no wonder they made this list. One cup of strawberries contains 53 calories and about 100 grams of vitamin C, so eat your vitamins and your water too!
7. Bell Peppers
Another food with high contents of vitamin C, bell peppers’ contain about 92% water with green peppers tipping the scale at 93%. Bell peppers commonly come in red, yellow, orange, and green with each color having its own nutrient benefits. The primary nutrients of all the colors include vitamin K, A, E, folate, and potassium.
8. Spinach
Spinach a very nutrient-dense low-calorie food contains about 92% water. Popeye was on to something because spinach packs high amounts of magnesium, calcium, iron, and vitamin C. Together, they all to help boost cell growth, heart health, and strengthen immunity. Spinach is easily combined with other foods on this list for a meal staple salad packed with nutrients at little caloric debt.
9. Kiwi
This tropical tree fruit sits at 90% water and 90 calories. What most people do not know about kiwi is that it packs more vitamin C than an orange. With a high potassium content, kiwi is perfect for a post-workout food after a high-intensity workout. It hydrates plus adds nutrients back! A win-win.
10. Tomatoes
Rounding off the list are tomatoes at almost 95% water. Tomatoes are known to be high in lycopene, which helps prevent prostate cancer. Tomatoes are one of the fruits/vegetables where the nutrients are amplified after cooking, bringing out the carotenoids. Carotenoids are responsible for skin health, cancer prevention, and eye health.
Overall
These are just some of the benefits of these fantastic water-rich foods. Looking at all these options, it’s an easy case to add them to your daily eating. Water-rich foods make up about 20% of your daily hydration needs, so why not eat your water? Focusing on hydration is a mindless way to improve your health without much effort.
