As the temperature rises, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Don’t put your body at risk. Dehydration can lead to increased thirst, low energy, headaches, dry skin & dizziness.
That’s why it’s very important to take extra care of your body during the summer season. While many health experts recommend drinking several glasses of water per day, the water content of foods is often overlooked.
You can consume a significant amount of water by including a variety of water-rich fruits & vegetables in your diet.
Here are our top 5 cooling foods that will keep you hydrated during the summer season:
1. Watermelon
Water content: 92%Watermelon is very healthy and is one of the most hydrating foods you can eat. They are also rich in powerful antioxidants, including lycopene. Try making a delicious & refreshing watermelon salad by adding it to sliced cucumbers, crumbled feta cheese & thinly slices of mint tossed in olive oil, lime juice, salt & pepper.
2. Cucumbers
Water content: 95%Loaded with fiber, cucumbers are made up almost entirely of water & contain nutrients such as vitamin K, potassium & magnesium. Cucumbers can be added to salads & sandwiches.
3. Lettuce
Water content: 96%Lettuce contains a high amount of water, plus it contains fiber, folate, vitamins A & K. Lettuce comes in a few varieties including romaine, green leaf, butterhead, red leaf & iceberg. In addition to adding it to salads, lettuce can be used as a “bun” for burgers. You can also replace tortillas with lettuce when making burritos, tacos, or wraps.
4. Celery
Water content: 95%Not only does celery have a high water content, it contains fiber & nutrients like iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus & zinc. Celery can be eaten raw along with healthy dips like hummus & Greek yogurt. It can also be added to soups & salads.
5. Zucchini
Water content: 94%In addition to its high water content, zucchini is highly nutritious. It contains significant amounts of vitamins B6, C, K, riboflavin & folate as well as minerals like potassium & manganese. You can add zucchini to soups, salads & stir fry dishes. We love to cut zucchini in strips to create zucchini “noodles”, a delicious & crunchier alternative to regular pasta.
Edna Dimataga-Fernandez founded The Wellness Institute in 2013. The company utilizes a holistic model of wellness consulting focusing on the 6 dimensions of organizational well-being: physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual & financial health. The Wellness Institute provides holistic health assessments, corporate well-being workshops & wellness consultations with holistic health practitioners. Wellness-Spring, the company’s holistic health store, sells organic & non-toxic health & beauty products. A portion of the proceeds is donated back to causes that support women, children, health, wellness & education. She has worked & consulted for companies in the insurance & financial services industry, the medical & behavioral health field and the non-profit sector. Edna holds a B.A. in Economics from UCLA and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. She is a Past President (2010-11) of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors - Los Angeles Chapter and is an approved Continuing Education Provider for the California Department of Insurance.