The Most Hydrating Foods

In the summer heat, drinking plenty of water and other hydrating beverages is the first line of defense against dehydration, but it’s not the only one. What you eat makes more of a difference than you might think – on average, 22% of our fluid intake comes from the foods we choose.

Besides providing water, top-tier hydrating foods contain critical electrolytes and other nutrients that help protect us from the summer sun. By nature’s design, many of these quenching foods are in peak season this time of year, so they are optimally bountiful and alluring when we need them the most.

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This is a select list some of the most hydrating foods (source: USDA FoodData Central):

• 90-99% water

  melon, strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, cabbage, celery, cucumber, peppers, spinach, cabbage, peppers, radishes, cauliflower, asparagus, milk

• 80-90% water

  grapes, apples, blueberries, peaches, pears, pineapple, oranges, broccoli, carrots, beets, yogurt, cottage cheese, sweet potatoes

• 70-80% water

  Avocados, bananas, potato, lentils and beans, ricotta cheese, yellow corn, shrimp, crab, flounder, sole, cod

And here are some ideas for using them throughout the summer: