04/09/2018
Great Food for Fighting Dehydration
Many of us are suffering through the heat-wave covering the United States. This is a good time to point out that our dietary intake is vital for protection against dehydration. The foods highest in water content are fruits and vegetables, so be sure some of your water intake is food! It's also important to note that besides depleting our systems of water, sweating deprives our bodies of sodium, potassium, phosphates and calcium bicarbonate. It is absolutely necessary to include foods that will replace these vital electrolytes along with ensuring proper fluid intake!- Watermelon has a fluid content of 92 percent! It also contains plenty of antioxidant-rich vitamins, including vitamin A, B6, B1 and C. About a cup of watermelon yields 48 calories, so feel free to splurge. Start your morning with a watermelon-based fruit smoothie for added protection all day long!
- Cantaloupe is a nutrition powerhouse, one cup yields over 100 percent of the daily recommended amount for vitamin C and A, and contains around 15 percent of your daily recommended amount for potassium, which reduces your dehydration risk. Another water-rich food, cantaloupe offers just 2 percent less water content than watermelon.
- Grapes should be high on everyone's list of hydrators, but what's not as obvious is its nutrient content. On average, grapes contain anywhere from 5 to 21 percent of the vitamins B1, B2, B6, C and K, with 191 milligrams of potassium. Grapes also contain an antioxidant called resveratrol, which has been shown to reduce the risk for cancer and lower blood sugar in animals.
- Cucumber's low-calorie status - 13 calories per cup - makes it an ideal food for dieters. In addition to naturally-hydrating content, cucumbers offer vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber to aid the digestive system.
- Tomatoes yield 22 percent of the recommended daily amount for vitamin C in a mere 3.5 ounces! Eat them raw to take full advantage of their high-water content. Tomatoes are also a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant that has been shown to reduce cancer risk.
