How to Hydrate through your Plate!
When we hear the word "hydration", many of us immediately think about drinking more water. We have all been told that we are not drinking enough water so much so that there is an entire industry of inspirational water bottles that cheer you on at every litre line.
While water is obviously the best source of hydration there is one key element people often forget - hydration through FOOD. That's right, you can also add to your daily hydration through the foods you choose to include in your diet! Water is essential for human health, but water alone does not hydrate the body.
What Foods Have the Highest Water Content
With a plant-focused diet high in fruits and vegetables, the food you eat can account for up to 40% of your daily hydration! The bonus of getting your hydration through plants is that while you consume their water content, you are also benefitting from their nutrient content as well as prolonging the duration due to your body having to break down the food to get to their water content.
A perfect example that almost everyone loves is the cucumber. Not only are they made of over 95% water, but they're also a source of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps regulate the amount of sodium retained by the kidneys, which directly relates to hydration. Cucumbers also contain nutrients found primarily in the squash and gourd family called cucurbitacins, which have been linked to anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects. Hydration and nutritional benefits, wrapped into one.
Other foods that taste amazing, are filled with nutrients AND hydrate you include: watermelon, celery, tomatoes, strawberries, lettuce, peaches, oranges, apples and more.
Electrolytes through Food
Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electrical charge and we need them to live a healthy life. Electrolytes spark cell function throughout the body, support hydration through fluid regulation and help our bodies produce energy. Our hearts literally wouldn't beat without electrolytes, because electrolytes are also responsible for stimulating muscle contractions.
Electrolytes can be consumed in the form of:
- sodium
- phosphate
- potassium
- calcium
- magnesium
- chloride
- bicarbonate
which can all be found in plants! Plants high in electrolytes are a very important part of staying hydrated and healthy body function.
Increase electrolytes in your diet by including these plants on your plate: spinach, kale, avocados, tofu, bananas, nuts, soybeans, watermelon and more.
Gulping down water is not the only (or best) way to keep your body happy and hydrated! Add these water and electrolyte rich plants to improve your body's fluid balance in a tasty and colourful way.