Hydration for Weight Loss Part 1: 17 Foods That Help Keep You Hydrated

In all likelihood, you have heard over and over again how proper hydration is important for your health. If you don’t drink enough water, you can end up dehydrated which in turn can lead to other nasty conditions such as headaches, fatigue, aching muscles, and cramps. Skin problems can develop; low blood pressure and even rapid heart rate all can result from dehydration.

And if it is really serious dehydration this can even lead to organ failure. That so – called old wives’ tale of drinking 8 glasses of water a day, even if you have heard it a thousand times over, is actually a pretty good daily standard for most people. And if you are trying to lose weight, being well hydrated can even help you with your goals!

Apart from the tried and true method of drinking water to keep hydrated, there are a ton of different foods that can help too! Other then contributing to your health, they can contribute to the amount of water you get in your diet. In fact, we are going to list some of the top water-rich foods that will benefit your body greatly in keeping hydrated.

Watermelon

Water Content: 92%

Watermelon is an extremely healthy fruit, and one of the most hydrating foods around. Just one cup of this delicious thirst quenching fruit contains about 118 ml of water. At the same time, you are adding fiber to your diet and other important nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, and magnesium too. And when it comes to hydration for losing weight, well, the watermelon provides you with only 46 calories per cup. That’s because it has so much water in it, with a low-calorie density. Foods with lower calorie densities are great for weight loss. Watermelon and similar high water content fruits are great for giving a feeling of fullness and reducing appetite.

Strawberries

Water Content: 91%

Strawberries are very hydrating because they have such high water content. Not only that, they offer you plenty of fiber and also disease-fighting antioxidants, minerals and vitamins and that includes folate, manganese, and vitamin C. Strawberries are also known to reduce inflammation and they do a good job of protecting you against diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers too. Who doesn’t find it easy to add strawberries to the diet? – All you have to do is blend them to turn them into delicious smoothies – mmmmmm!

Cantaloupe

Water Content: 90%

Cantaloupes are melons and they are highly nutritious, boosting your health in quite a few ways. Just one cup of this hydrating fruit will give you 118 ml of water already. That same cup will give you 2 grams of fiber, providing you with a fullness to reduce your appetite. Cantaloupes are also rich in vitamin A.

Oranges

Water Content: 88%

The orange is one incredible fruit, very healthy and nutritious, supplying you with plenty of liquid refreshment. 118 ml of water is to be found in one cup of orange juice, which is also loaded with fiber and nutrients such as vitamin C and potassium, all ready to give your immune system a boost.

Oranges are also rich in disease-fighting antioxidants and flavonoids that fight inflammation. If you eat oranges regularly, you can protect yourself as well from developing kidney stones – this is due to the citric acid in oranges which binds with calcium oxalate to flush out the kidney stones.

Cucumbers

Water Content: 95%

Just looking at delicious cucumbers makes you feel cool and hydrated already. That is because they are made up of just about entirely water. They also provide small amounts of other nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K. Cucumbers also have low amounts of calories too, when compared to other water-rich veggies. After all, there are only 8 calories in a half-cup of cucumbers, and they are also so refreshing.

Lettuce

Water Content: 96%

Just one cup of lettuce will provide you with more than a quarter cup of water. Lettuce also has folate in it, which makes it important for women who are pregnant – folate is known to help prevent neural birth defects. Lettuce leaves contain health- giving amounts of vitamin K and vitamin A, both important for keeping the immune system healthy and the bones strong. The combination of water and fiber to be found in lettuce makes it very filling for such a low number of calories – 10 calories to 1 cup of lettuce.

Broths and Soups

Water Content: 92%

Both soups and broths are usually water-based which makes them great for hydration and weight loss. In fact, the bone broth diet is such a popular eating plan, combining the principles of the Paleo diet and intermittent fasting. Fans of the bone broth diet say it is amazingly effective in terms of weight loss, but that it comes with added benefits such as skin health, benefiting joint function and health.

Tomatoes

Water Content: 94%

One medium sized tomato will offer you 118 ml of water. Tomatoes also have immune-boosting vitamins A and C in it. There are only 32 calories in 1-cup of tomato and they are packed with fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants, including lycopene. Lycopene has plenty of health benefits, not least is its power to lower the risk of heart disease and also to prevent the development of prostate cancer. They are also so versatile, easily cooked up in soups, sauces and added into salads.

Zucchini

Water Content: 94%

A nutritious vegetable with several health benefits. 1-cup offers more than 90% of water.

Celery

Water Content: 95%

Celery is extremely healthy and hydrating for you to include in your diet, made up mostly of water. 1 cup offers 118 ml of water.

Plain yogurt

Water Content: 88%

Plain yogurt contains a lot of water. 1 cup, a 245-gram serving, is made up of more than 75% water.

Bell Peppers

Water Content: 92%

More than 90% of the weight of bell peppers comes from water. They are extremely low in calories, providing 46 calories per cup (149 grams).

Cauliflower

Water Content: 92%

Cauliflowers are very nutritious and hydrating. One cup, 100 grams, provides more than 59 ml of water.

Cabbage

Water Content: 92%

Eating cabbage is such a healthy veggie, it will help you with many aspects of your health and that includes hydration. This is due to its water, nutrient and antioxidant contents.

Grapefruit

Water Content: 88%

Grapefruit is an exceptionally healthy citrus fruit. In half a grapefruit (123 grams), there is close to a half-cup (118 grams) of water, which contributes to a really decent amount of water to your daily hydration needs.

Coconut Water

Water Content: 95%

A beverage packed with health and hydration. The reason coconut water is so beneficial for hydration is that it is so rich in water and electrolytes.

Cottage cheese

Water Content: 80%

You might find it hard to believe, but did you know that around 80% of the cottage cheese you eat – that 80% of its weight comes from water. So enjoy your cottage cheese, mixing it with fruit, as a spread, or for salads, etc.

As you can see from the above, whilst drinking water is important, it is highly possible, and essential that you consume a goodly amount of water by including the above colorful variety of water-rich fruits, vegetables, and dairy products in your diet.

It is the reason, too, why most people don’t necessarily have to drink a lot of water. Because as long as you are eating plenty of water-rich foods and drinking water when you feel thirsty, you won’t have a problem staying hydrated.