Who Wants To Look And Feel Great? - Hydrating Foods

Davina Smith from Davina Smith Nutrition

We are often told to drink at least 8x250ml glasses of water a day to stay hydrated.

Why?

1. Our bodies are made up of approx. 70% water. Our brains about 80%. Fact! We lose water throughout the day and night like when we sleep, digest, exercise and sweat. Ensuring you are hydrated will improve your concentration and increase your vitality. No brainer!!
2. Flushes Out Toxins – especially after a night out on the town.
3. Boosts skin health and the cheapest and most effective anti-aging product out there!!
4. Stimulates Weight Loss. 
5. Keeps you regular – if you know what I mean – no constipation.
6. Your immune system loves water.
7. Headache cure – headaches are mostly caused by dehydration.
8. Combats cravings. Often when we feel peckish we are in fact dehydrated.
9. Makes us happy as boosts our moods.
10. Prevents craps and sprains - so important to hydrate when exercising at any level.

Okay…I get you Davina…I need to drink more water.

Yes, but you can also be more hydrated by adding some very nutritious hydrating foods into your daily diet. The examples below are also full of so many great nutrients that can improve your overall health and well-being.

• Eat your greens

Yes our Mums’ were right to tell us to eat our greens like broccoli, cabbage, peas and salad greens.  Have raw or add to your stir-fries, can juice them up too.  All Hail the Super Greens.

• Cucumber

Cucumbers are mostly comprised off water. Munch away as crudités with some hummus and dips, add to your salads and can also juice cucumbers. Cucumber sambo anyone? Slices of cucumber as hydrating eye masks while you take a power nap but remember to remove if the person you fancy is calling over.

• Courgette

Gets an A+ with a 95% hydration score. Again can have raw as crudités, juice up, into stir-fries, soups etc.

• Watermelon

92% water content and also contains the essential rehydration salts calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Studies have shown watermelon can be better for you than most sports drinks after exercise. Nothing beats water melon wedges and sucking up the juice.

• Celery

Crunchy celery is 96% water, but it also provides a combination of mineral salts, amino acids and vitamins that research shows may hydrate your body twice as effectively as a glass of water

• Bell Peppers

Very juicy - have raw chopped, add to your salads, toss into your stir-fries.

• Pineapple

Even when you cut open a pineapple the juices oozes out. Not only as a topping to pizza but great again on its own and in homemade smoothies/juices.

• Strawberries

Get your berries on this Summer.  In the high 90% hydration range, these little red beauties are also teaming with nutrients. Have on their own, in a smoothie, in salads with a little of drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

• Butternut squash

Surprisingly this majestic veggie is made up of at least 88% water, Okay may not be too edible raw, but great alternative to your oven chips, chopped up into your soups and stir-fries. Anyone try butternut squash mash...Delish.

Juicy Tomatoes are composed of about 95% water. Result!

• Carrots

Contain about 87% water and more of the powerful antioxidant beta-carotene than any other vegetable or fruit. Beta-carotene can improve skin health plus an anticancer nutrient.

• Peaches & Nectarines

Nothing beasts a ripe peach and the juice running down your chin!! Who cares if you are on the bus getting your ticket at the same time?

• Avocado

Avocado may not seem like a hydrating food, but this green goddess can replenish the electrolyte potassium plus a great source of the healthy fats and fibre which can  help your body hold on to water.

• Yoghurt

Ideally Natural Live Probiotic yoghurt to boost your gut health with the good bacteria. Yoghurts are made up of at least 80% water.  I think its smoothie time!!

Actually most of above if not all can be used as a face mask!!

Go forth and get hydrated.