Best Hydrating Foods to Add to Your Diet | Bob's Red MillStaying hydrated is a lot more complicated than it sounds. When it comes to proper hydration, we usually think of water first. While drinking enough water is an essential part of staying hydrated, there are several other ways that you can add more liquid to your diet. If you're not staying as hydrated as you should, it's time to call in for backup. Reinforce your hydration efforts by stocking up on crispy, refreshing and hydrating foods.The amount of water your body needs varies from person to person. The climate you live in, your activity levels, and the foods you enjoy are all factors that affect your unique water requirements. While these factors may change daily, one thing is for sureit's imperative to stay hydrated for overall health. Aside from keeping your body running as it should, consuming more water can help you feel fuller for longer, flush out toxins and even clear up pesky skin problems.
How to Stay Hydrated
Eager to learn how you can stay hydrated as the warmer weather rolls in? Here are a few tips from the Bob's Red Mill team.
Drink Hourly
When it comes to staying hydrated, dont wait until youre thirsty to drink. If you feel thirsty, then you're likely already a bit dehydrated. To ensure that you're providing your body with the amount of water it requires, be sure to drink steadily throughout the day. This is especially necessary if the weather is hot or if you're active. High temperatures and activity levels can cause your body to burn through the water at a quicker rate, which means that you'll need to drink more water more often.
Flavor Your Water with Fruits
Not a fan of drinking water? You're not alone. Many individuals don't drink as much water as they should simply because it lacks flavor. The good news is because water doesn't have much of a taste at all, it's incredibly easy to flavor with your favorite fruits. If you find plain water boring, add fresh fruits like strawberries, cucumbers, lemon, kiwi and oranges. Or, if you're really not a fan, boost your water intake by consuming clear broths and fruit juices. Just try to keep alcohol and caffeine to a minimum, as these drinks dehydrate rather than hydrate.
Eat Water-Filled Fruits and Veggies
As we stated earlier, one of the best ways to boost your hydration levels is to consume fruits and vegetables that are rich in water. Foods like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, zucchini and kiwi are just a few of the many fruits and veggies that boast a high water content. Work these delicious foods into your dinner recipes, enjoy them as a snack, or prep them into a tasty smoothie! No matter how you choose to enjoy these foods, they're sure to boost your hydration levels.
The Top Hydrating Foods
Most people consume nearly of their daily water intake through the foods they eat. Keep scrolling to discover a few of our favorite foods high in water that you can begin adding to your diet today. Each of these foods clocks in with high water content and will work together with your water bottle to keep you healthy and hydrated.
Cucumber
Cucumber is a shining star on the list of most hydrating fruits to eat! The impressive water content and delicious taste make it a food enjoyed by many. If you're working on incorporating more water-filled foods into your diet, cucumber is an excellent place to start. A single cucumber is made up of about 95% water, plus they're loaded with potassium and contain anti-inflammatory benefits. Snack on cucumbers alone, add them to your favorite salad, or use them as a healthy way to flavor your water for double the hydration!Recipe to try: Cucumber Ginger Chia Fresca
Zucchini
Fruits aren't the only food that boasts an impressive water content; many veggies do too! Sneaking more vegetables into your weekly meals has several benefits, one of which being added hydration. Zucchini is a tasty superfood that carries many benefits. While zucchini can be enjoyed raw, most people prefer to enjoy it cooked into a veggie-based dish like stir fry. Zucchini's versatility has recently gained praise among health enthusiasts and individuals looking for tasty ways to reduce the number of carbs in their diet. Because of zucchinis pleasant taste and texture, a spiralizer can easily be used to shape this delicious veggie into a noodle-like shape which has the potential to squash pasta cravings in just a few bites. With a similar water content of cucumber, nearly 95 percent, zucchinis land at the top of the list of hydrating foods.From mouth watering veggie-based dinner dishes to a healthy baked dessert like this Chocolate Zuchinni Mug Muffin, you'll quickly find that including zucchini in your diet is an easy task!Recipe to Try: Gluten Free Zuchinni Bread
Watermelon
There's a reason why watermelon is a summer staple, and it's not just because of its fantastic taste. Watermelon is overflowing with water that will help keep you hydrated and refreshed on a hot summer day. Counting in just under cucumbers, with a 92% water content, water isn't the only thing that this melon is loaded with. A substantial amount of nutrients like vitamin A, C, B6 and antioxidants make this treat just as healthy as it is sweet.When looking to boost your hydration, a bowl full of chilled watermelon won't disappoint. Pair this fruit with other refreshing foods, bring watermelon skewers to your next get-together, or blend it up and turn it into the perfect summertime smoothie. Because this fruit tastes great with just about anything, there are endless possibilities. Watermelon is also an excellent fruit to serve up if you're accommodating picky guests or children, as its flavor is nearly irresistible.Recipe to Try: Watermelon Quinoa Salad With Fermented Honey
Celery
Celery is an acquired taste, but if you're an individual who enjoys it, then you're in luck. Celery is both hydrating and healthy and will leave your body feeling its best. Boasting an impressive 95% water content, celery is an excellent option if you're searching for a great-tasting snack to keep you hydrated throughout the day.In the past couple of years, celery benefits have come to light, with celery juice becoming a morning staple for many. Whether you prefer to drink or eat celery, there are many ways to do so. Because celery is a bit bitter, we suggest mixing it with flavors that are just as strong. This will help create a balance of flavors and prevent celery from overpowering the other foods in your meal. That being said, if you love the taste of celery, it's perfectly healthy (and delicious) to enjoy it raw. Munch on a couple of celery sticks throughout the day to keep you full between meals, or pair it with peanut butter for an energizing and protein-packed snack.Recipe to try: Lemony Almond Green Smoothie
Carrots
Carrots aren't just for rabbits. In fact, there's a reason why bunnies love them so much. Aside from a carrot's incredible taste, they also flaunt a high water content. This tasty veggie is nearly 90 percent water and high in fibertwo nutrients that your body craves daily. When it comes to sneaking more of this bright orange food into your diet, there are several ways to do so. Chop fresh carrots up and add them to a salad, bake them into a homemade chicken pot pie, or purchase them precut and enjoy them as a snack dipped in hummus, guacamole or ranch.When deciding which carrots to purchase, it's hard to go wrong. Our advice is to look for the freshest ones on the shelves. Additionally, while carrots are known for being bright orange, it's not the only color this veggie is grown in. Lately, many health food stores have begun offering a wider variety of organically grown carrots found in several colors, including red, white and purple. Purchasing a bunch of uniquely colored carrots is an excellent way to spice up your dinner plate. While all carrots are rich in nutrients and water, each color contains a specific assortment of phytonutrients that offers slightly different nutritional benefits.Recipe to Try: Paleo Carrot Cake Pancakes
Kiwi
When it comes to hydration, kiwi is your friend. And while oranges often get praised for being a fruit high in vitamin c, kiwis may give them a run for their money. Made up of nearly 85% water, a serving of kiwi contains more vitamin C than an orange and is an excellent food choice, especially on a hot summer day. A tropical fruit that will increase your water intake and satiate your sweet tooth, kiwis, can be eaten raw, added to salad, or paired with other fresh fruits for a summertime treat.Recipe to try: Creamy Fruit SaladAnd there you have it! A complete list of the best hydrating whole foods. Quickly boost your hydration levels by making these foods a part of your daily meals. We're sure you won't be disappointed. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we hope that you stay healthy, happy and hydrated!