Advertisement
Treat your taste buds and replenish your water
When heat and humidity soar, keeping your body hydrated matters more than ever. But did you know you can hydrate with what’s on your plate, not just what’s in your cup?
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
The following foods are heavy on water content, according to registered dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, LD. In several cases, they’re also full of nutrients that can help you fight disease. So, eat up, and beat the heat with your fork.
Hydrate and replenish your skin with fresh cucumbers. In addition to containing 95% water, cucumbers are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds that help remove waste from your body and reduce skin irritation. Preliminary research also suggests cucumbers promote anti-wrinkling and anti-aging activity. You can find them at your local farmers market or local grocer. Tip: Freeze cucumber slices and place them on your skin under your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes to relieve redness and puffiness.
This fibrous veggie will satisfy your craving for crunch. It’s also tied with cucumbers and iceberg lettuce at 95% water by weight. You can feel good about eating celery because of its low-calorie count and high value in vitamin K, folate and potassium. What’s more, Zumpano says celery juice is packed with many vitamins and minerals, including:
Advertisement
“Drinking celery in juice form allows you to consume much more of the vegetable, thereby consuming higher quantities of its nutrients and vitamins than if you were just munching on a stalk of celery,” says Zumpano.
The “ice” might as well be melted, as this type of lettuce contains 95% water. That makes it a good hydrating base for your summer salad. But iceberg lettuce doesn’t pack as much of a punch as other leafy greens. If you prefer the heart-healthy benefits of leafy greens instead, spinach is a good alternative at 91% water by weight.
Look for fresh, in-season zucchini this summer. Like its relatives in the cucumber and melon families, this popular summer squash has a high water content — almost 95%. Better yet, zucchini packs in antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Those last two are especially important for eye health.
No surprise here — “water” is in the name, after all. Watermelon flesh contains 91% water. This summer treat also contains abundant lycopene, which can help protect cells from sun damage and improve your complexion.
They’re sweet enough that you can eat them for dessert. But the benefits of strawberries go beyond flavor and 91% water content. They provide a rich source of flavonoids, compounds associated with improved cognitive function. For example, one study associated eating more berries with delayed cognitive aging of up to 2.5 years.
Surprised? Well, cauliflower is actually 92% water by weight. It’s rich in vitamin C, vitamin K and other key essentials. Cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables contain nutrients that may help lower cholesterol and lower cancer risk. Try it mashed as a substitute for mashed potatoes.
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
This low-fat, plant-based eating plan includes lifestyle changes, such as exercise, stress management and social support
Eating foods derived from plants can lower your risks of heart disease, diabetes and obesity
Sitting in the dry heat may help reduce stress, improve heart health and relieve pain
There are different ways to alternate between eating and fasting
Watch the weather, keep lines of communication open and make sure everyone on board has access to a personal lifejacket or flotation device
Keep your child healthy and happy in the heat by ensuring they’re drinking water and taking breaks
The benefits of iron span your whole body, from your blood and your brain to your immune system and more
The results aren’t great, and the risks — like vision problems — aren’t worth it
Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress
PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body
While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims