Water-rich foods that help you stay hydrated

Did you know we lose eight to 12 cups of water daily through breathing, perspiring, urine, and bowel movements? With water making up about 60% of our body weight, it’s no surprise that being hydrated could be beneficial. Dehydration could lead to disturbed sleep, impaired memory, dry skin, and hair fall. However, there are other ways to help us stay hydrated. Several foods have various health benefits and body hydration properties that are a great alternative to just drinking water. Here is a list of foods that have plenty of water content. 

Coconut water: It is rich in electrolytes, potassium, sodium, and manganese, all of which are essential for the rehydration of the body after a long day in the sun or after any physical activity.

Sattu: This drink is prepared by dry roasting grains or grams, mostly barley or Bengal gram. It is mostly consumed in the summer, has excellent hydrating properties, and provides energy; it regulates digestion, aids in weight loss, and improves skin and hair health. 

Green leafy vegetables: The high mineral content in spinach and celery hydrates the body along with other benefits, as spinach is rich in fibre and also has high iron content. 

Watermelon: This juicy fruit gets its name from containing 92% water, making it a great snack for staying hydrated. Watermelon is also packed with beneficial nutrients and is a great source of antioxidants. 

Cucumber: One must remember cucumber when body hydration is in talks. Due to its 96% water content and mineral balance, a cucumber can produce similar hydration levels with twice the volume of water. It also contains almost ideal levels of calcium and magnesium, as well as potassium, sodium, and other minerals. 

Buttermilk: It contains around 90% water and electrolytes like potassium Thus, buttermilk is effective in maintaining water balance in the body and prevents dehydration.  If the thought of guzzling water all day seems like a lot, remember that only some of your water must come from plain cups of water. Plenty of foods have lots of water in them, and eating those counts against your water total for the day. Sugary drinks do not count and should be avoided. These beverages can be harmful to our health and also condition us to expect our food and drink to be overly sweet.  

Dr Anish Desai is MD, Clinical Pharmacologist and Nutraceutical Physician, Founder and CEO IntelliMed Healthcare Solutions