We highly emphasise upon having a lot of liquid, especially water on daily basis. To meet the designated daily intake of water, we quantify the amount of liquid in terms of number of glasses of water. However, our most common misconception is that our body receives the water requirement only through water. Most of us must be unaware of the fact that about 20% of water comes from the food we take every day. And, with intake of certain kinds of food, we can substantially increase the water intake. Also, there are other benefits of taking in water through food – your body absorbs the water more slowly and gets the nutrients along the way.
So, let us see how we can get hydrated through food.
Cucumbers are 95% water rich with very little calories. They are not only the best ingredients to prepare salads, but they are also known to fight inflammation. Practitioners also believe their ability to slow the aging process.
Most of you know spinach as a rich source of Vitamins and Minerals. But very few know that spinach contains 91% water of its weight. You can have spinach raw in salads or cooked. However, its high content of Vitamin A, B, C, K and minerals, such as calcium, manganese, and magnesium, plus antioxidants will help you in numerous ways.
One way to get the maximum out of cauliflower is to roast it, instead of boiling it. The other fact that it has 92% water makes it one of the top foods in the list. It is rich in vitamin C, K and other nutrients.
From its appearance, one can say how water content celery is. With 95% water, celery also has a lot if fibre, which makes it ideal as a good food for digestion. In addition, it has low calorie and high vitamin content and helps ease gastric inflammation.
Zucchini is among a few high water content vegetables. It has 95% water and high in antioxidants. You can have Zucchini for healthy eyes and good eyesight.
Iceberg Lettuce is 95% water. With this high water percentage, it is fibre rich and gives a healthy source of nutrients, such as potassium, manganese, iron, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous.
Carrot can be called as a versatile food. In spite of being solid and crunchy, they have 90% water in them. You not only get water, but various vital ingredients such as beta carotene and a few antioxidants, which help you keep your heart strong and protect against cancer.
Nobody can deny the health benefit of tomatoes. They are rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, such as lycopene. Talking about its rehydrating quality, tomatoes have 95% water in them. They also help you reduce “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and boost your overall cardiac health.
Watermelons are god summer friends. They help us stay hydrated when it is hot. Its sweetness makes it a popular ingredient in many health drinks. In addition, it is 91% water and rich in antioxidant, such as lycopene, which protects your cell from sun damage and helps your skin.
Strawberries are not known only to boost up your romantic mood, but they also supply a great deal of water – almost 91%. You can add them in deserts, summer salads and drinks. They have a very special antioxidant in them – flavonoids, which helps your brain stay sharp and healthy.
Grapefruit is 90% water. It is sour, which tells that it is rich in Vitamin C, and thereby strengthens your immune system, and protects you from cell damage. It is also full of fibre and a few nutrients
Yogurt is thick; still it contains 85% water. Practitioners recommend yogurt for its probiotic property. It boosts up digestion. Being a great source of protein and electrolytes, it also supplies regular water demand.
Soup, no doubt, is a liquid food and the great thing is that you can be innovative with the use of ingredients – fish, chicken, meet, beans, pasta, vegetables and other greens. It is a good source to meet your protein, nutrient, and fibre demand.
Oatmeal is good in keeping your heart good. When prepared with water, low fat or skimmed milk, it gives you a more dense and heavy meal as well as continuous source of water. In addition, it lowers cholesterol levels and helps deal with type - 2 diabetes and breast cancer.