You’ve probably heard that you need drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. However, there isn’t much evidence to support that number. Instead, the Institute of Medicine recommends that men actually drink 12 cups and women drink roughly 9 cups a day. In reality, the amount changes based on how much you weigh, how hot the climate is and how active you are. Unfortunately, people have a hard getting enough water every day, especially in the summer. One way to increase your water intake that’s often overlooked is to eat more foods that are high in water. So, here are the top 7 foods high in water:
1. Cucumbers
Believe it or not, cucumbers are 96% water. Cucumbers go great with hummus. My Grandmother also makes a great recipe that’s comprised of thinly sliced cucumbers, oil, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. The longer you wait to serve the cucumbers the better they taste.
2. Iceberg Lettuce:
Iceberg lettuce is also 96% water. While not as nutritious as kale, spinach, chard and the like, you can always mix cabbage into your salads on hot summer days.
3. Celery
Celery is 95% water. It’s hard to go wrong with peanut butter and celery, but it also goes well with other dips.
4. Radishes:
Radishes are 95% water. I can’t say that I eat radishes very often, but here are 13 recipes from RealSimple.
5. Zucchini
Zucchini is 95% water. Zucchini is great with dips, in a stir fry, and you can’t go wrong zucchini bread if you’re feeling more ambitious.
6. Tomatoes:
Tomatoes are also 95% water. As you know, there are many things that tomatoes go well with. Studies have also shown that cooking tomatoes is actually better for you because it makes the carotenoid lycopene more available to the body. So, try to eat cooked tomatoes a couple of times a week.
7. Cabbage:
Also great in salads, cabbage rounds out the list at 93% water.
Conclusion:
What? No watermelon? At 92% water, watermelon would have actually come in next on the list. However, these vegetable rule the top 7. So if you’re looking for a little extra hydration this summer, look for these healthy veggies!