There I was, in my kitchen on one of those blisteringly hot summer days, staring at my drained water bottle as if it had personally betrayed me. Another day, another failure at staying hydrated. We’ve all been guilty of this, right?
The whole “drink eight glasses of water a day” baloney is easy until you’re actually trying to do it. Believe me. I’ve tried setting reminders on my phone, lugging giant water bottles that are heavier than my laptop, and even trying those programs that play annoying “drink water” jingles every hour. And yet sometimes I end up at the end of the day having had more coffee than water. Oops.
But the amazing thing I discovered not so long ago is that you don’t even have to chug gallons of plain water to get hydrated. Nature’s got our backs with a whole shopping list of hydrating foods that can prevent us from turning into human raisins.
Why Staying Hydrated Is Actually A Big Deal
Before we go on to the foods (pun completely intended), let’s discuss why in the world we would even bother with hydration. I mean, aside from the whole “stay alive” thing.
Your body is essentially a walking water balloon – approximately 60% water. More than half of you, folks! Water makes everything go smoothly, from your brain function to your digestion to your skin not resembling a desiccated apricot.
Symptoms you’re not hydrated enough? Your head throbbing with tiny construction workers jackhammering away in your temples. Dark yellow urine (sorry, someone had to say something). Your fatigue even though you slept fine. Grumpiness that makes your family wonder if you’ve been body-snatched or not.
One of my friends once got so dehydrated while hiking that she started fighting with a tree. A TREE. She thought it was deliberately blocking her path. Don’t be Sarah.
Hydrating Foods That Do The Heavy Lifting: Nature’s Water Bottles
The Cucumber – Nature’s Spa Water
Why do fancy spas always put cucumber slices in water?
It’s not for the ‘gram photo. Cucumbers are basically water wearing a green disguise – they contain about 96% water. That’s higher water content than there is in actual water bottles. (Okay, that’s not exactly true, but you catch my drift.)
Chop ’em up in salads, munch on ’em with hummus, or yep, throw ’em in your water like you’re a guest at a five-star hotel when in reality you’re just sitting at your desk surrounded by the dirty laundry you’re not bothering to fold at the moment.
Watermelon – The Name Speaks For Itself, Folks
Watermelon is basically nature’s water balloon, and it’s about 92% water. And it has electrolytes and vitamins that regular water can only fantasize about possessing.
Think about it – on a hot summer day, what tastes more refreshing? A glass of warm tap water or a chilled piece of watermelon that drips down your chin and brings back memories of childhood? Just that.
I once drank so much watermelon at a family picnic that my aunt asked me if I was “expecting.” I wasn’t pregnant, only really hydrated.
Strawberries – Small but Powerful
These little red gems are made up of about 91% water. They’re nature’s water bombs with a good splash of vitamin C and antioxidants thrown in.
Keep a bowl of strawberries in the fridge for when water is boring but you know your body is secretly thirsty for a drink. Your cells will thank you. They can’t actually talk, but I imagine they’d send a nice card or something.
Lettuce – It’s Not Just a Crunch Placeholder
Iceberg lettuce has a bad reputation for lacking nutrients, but really, it’s hydration heaven at 96% water. It’s practically crunchy water with a dash of green for aesthetic purposes.
Next time that someone mocks your “rabbit food” salad, inform them that you’re actually a hydration master posing as a health nut.
More Than The Obvious: Hidden Hydration Heroes
Yogurt – Creamy Hydration Station
Surprised? Yogurt is about 85% water, and it also has protein and probiotics. It’s essentially a multi-tasking food superhero.
I once left a yogurt cup in my car in the summer unintentionally. When I came back, it had basically reverted back to its original milk texture. Gross anecdote, but it gets the point across about water content!
Oatmeal – Morning Moisture
Cooked oatmeal is about 85% water, so your breakfast bowl is a hydration head start. Top it with some strawberries, and you’re basically a hydration overachiever by 9 AM.
My grandmother used to say oatmeal “stuck to your ribs.” It appears it’s actually sticking water to the lining of your belly, which is weird but actually a good thing.
Soup – The Original Hydration Hack
Chicken soup when ill isn’t really about the coziiness aspect – it’s hydrating you and draining out your sinuses. It’s like you’re receiving a hug and an IV of water in one pot.
Don’t you just notice how awesome you feel when you’ve got a bowl of soup, no matter how badly you were feeling beforehand? It’s not even the warmth alone – it’s your cells are doing the cha cha slide because they’re becoming hydrated.
Hydration Hacks For Actual Humans
Let’s be honest. We forget to drink water because we’re actually alive, not because we’re trying to become human jerky.
- Make it a one-for-one swap. Coffee, then water. Soda, then water. Adult beverage, then definitely water. Your morning self will appreciate this.
- Invest in a water bottle that won’t get everything tasting like plastic or metal. Too short is life for gross-tasting water.
- Savor your water. Read this article and munch on water-rich foods when drinking gets monotonous.
- Set realistic goals. Maybe eight glasses is too much pressure. Start by replacing one sweetened drink with water each day.
When to Get Serious About Hydration
Now, I’m not against keeping things low-key (save for my water bottle, which is actually quite heavy), but there are times when hydration isn’t a laughing matter.
If you’re truly working hard, working in the heat, pregnant, breastfeeding, or recovering from illness, your hydration needs are higher. Gigantically so. Like, “you should probably carry that annoying gallon jug like fitness personalities” so.
Some medications will also cause you to become thirsty. If your medication guide pamphlet is thicker than a novel, chances are there’s some advice in there regarding staying hydrated.
Hydration Doesn’t Have To Be Boring
Think of good hydration as a form of self-care that doesn’t require a special app, an expensive device, or putting weird things in your smoothie.
Your body needs water, but you don’t have to do it any way. If it’s from that snazzy water bottle with clock indicators or from the watermelon you’re munching on at the sink so you don’t have to wash another dish, it all counts.
So the next time you can’t stand the thought of gulping down another glass of plain water, remember that cucumber in your fridge is basically a spa treatment waiting to happen.
Stay juicy, friends!