6 Refreshing Foods to Help You Stay Hydrated

  • 19 May - 25 May, 2018
  • Mag The Weekly
  • Cookery

With summers and Ramazan going on these days, it is especially important to stay hydrated. But let’s not rely in taking fluids and also have foods that have excellent water content, so your body can benefit from it throughout the day. An added plus? Research shows that eating foods that are full of water helps keep you satisfied on fewer calories. Here are seven of our favorite foods with water.

1. Cucumbers

At 95 per cent water content, a cup of cucumber slices is nearly as thirst-quenching as a glass of water. Cucumbers also provide a little fibre and some vitamin C (about six per cent of the daily value per cup). Don’t limit your cucumber consumption to tossing slices into green salads; get inspired to make refreshing cucumber recipes: dips, soups and even pickles.

2. Salad greens

Part of the reason that two cups of salad greens have fewer than 15 calories is that greens are more than 90 per cent water. They are also packed with nutrients, such as folate, vitamin C, fibre and the antioxidant beta carotene, which helps keep your eyes and skin healthy. Plus, having a salad for lunch (or dinner) is a great way to keep the calorie count in check.

3. Strawberries

Strawberries deliver the most vitamin C of all berries and also provide folate, a B vitamin that’s essential for the healthy growth of new cells. And, since they are 91 per cent water, they will contribute significantly toward your overall fluid intake. Eat them straight up or try them in a new strawberry recipe: they are special in everything from salads to baked goods.

4. Watermelon

Ninety-two per cent water (hence the name), watermelon is a good source of vitamin C and, when it’s red (some are orange or yellow), also has lycopene, an antioxidant that may help protect against heart disease and some types of cancer. Enjoy fresh wedges or, better yet, get creative and go for watermelon sickles.

5. Yogurt

Depending on your preferred type, regular plain yogurt is 85-88 per cent water (surprisingly, there’s more water in fuller-fat yogurt). You will also get calcium, some B vitamins (namely B12 and riboflavin) and good-for-you probiotics.

6. Butternut Squash

This sweet and nutty squash is 88 per cent water. A cup of cooked butternut squash also boasts over 400 per cent of your daily value for vitamin A – a key nutrient for eye health – as well as healthy doses of vitamin C, potassium and manganese.

RELATED POST

COMMENTS