Hydrating for Spring, preparing for Summer. Eat your water!

Apr 4, 2015

4 min read

Spring has sprung! If you haven't started already, this will give you some ideas on how to up your hydration levels by eating your water!

Hydration is important in so many ways, to feel good, look good, improve skin tone/elasticity/aid in digestion - there are so so so many ways that hydration is important! And because I know that drinking eight (or more) glasses of water can be daunting, I was ecstatic to learn about these yummy foods that will kickstart your hydration while you ease yourself into drinking more and more water.

Enjoy!

1. Cucumber: You can actually eat your water by noshing on solid foods like cucumber. It’s more than 90% water by weight making it hugely hydrating, along with being a refreshing snack.

2. Avacodo: Aside from being DELICIOIUS, Avacodo is a superfood and an excellent source of vitamin C, and monosaturated fats that help your skin maintain moisture and get glowing! So you can justify paying extra at Chipotle for that yummy goodness. #GuacamoleIsLife

3. Spinach & Kale: Not only are they fantastic for your immune system, but thanks to the addition of Omega 4 fatty acids, vitamins, phytochemicals and folates, they also work to protect and hydrate skin, keeping it healthy.

4. Red & Green Peppers: One of my favorite foods to cook or eat raw, red and green peppers are full of Vitamin C, dietary fiber and Vitamin B6. This combination helps to prevent wrinkles, acne, and will keep skin looking more youthful.

5. Radishes: Looking for a root vegetable that's high in water content? Radishes contain lots of Vitamin C, Phosphorous and Zinc making them a nourishing food to help keep your body hydrated and your skin looking fresh and healthy.

6. Olive Oil: Comes in handy when cooking, but it also boasts beauty benefits that can improve your skin. This wonder ingredient has anti-inflammatory properties and is packed with antioxidants that can help repair the skin’s moisture barrier.

7. Watermelon: Watermelon juice is full of Vitamins A and C that work to nourish your skin, keeping it strong and ensuring that you do not lose excess water.

8. Almonds: Rich in Vitamin E, almonds are one of the best foods to eat for hydrated skin. Antioxidants and monounsaturated fats help to keep moisture in and provide your skin with the moisture that it needs to stay hydrated, keeping it looking young.

9. Broccoli: There are more reasons to eat broccoli than just to make your mother happy. Vitamins C and E along with a super high concentration of sulforophane helps skin to repair itself while also detoxifying and protecting.

10. Eggs & Fish: The antioxidants found in eggs actually quadruple your protection against UV damage leading to softer, firmer, and more hydrated skin. There are a lot of ways to add eggs to your diet and they are tasty poached, boiled, scrambled, or fried. Beyond just a high-quality protein, fish is chock full of omega-3 which can boost the oil under your skin and improve clarity. There is additional research that suggests a Mediterranean diet rich in fish can reduce inflammation and strengthen the membranes that hold water in.

11. Celery: Stuff your salad full of celery and your skin will thank you. This yummy veggie contains silica, which boosts moisture and elasticity, helping to keep skin young and supple.

12. Iceberg Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce tends to get a bad rap, nutrition-wise. Health experts often recommend shunning it in favor of darker greens like spinach or romaine lettuce, which contain higher amounts of fiber and nutrients such as folate and vitamin K. It's a different story when it comes to water content, though: Crispy iceberg has the highest of any lettuce, followed by butterhead, green leaf, and romaine varieties.

13. Tomatoes: Sliced and diced tomatoes will always be a mainstay of salads, sauces, and sandwiches, but don't forget about sweet cherry and grape varieties, which make an excellent hydrating snack.

14. Cauliflower: Don't let cauliflower's pale complexion fool you: In addition to having lots of water, these unassuming florets are packed with vitamins and phytonutrients. (TIP: I adore oven-roasted cauliflower tossed with olive oil, garlic, and crushed red/black pepper and/or cayenne pepper.

15. Star Fruit: This tropical fruit, also known ascarambola, comes in sweet and tart varieties and has a juicy texture similar to pineapple. Its eye-catching shape looks great in a fruit salad or as an edible garnish on the rim of a summer cocktail, and as an added bonus it's rich in antioxidants, especially epicatechin—a heart-healthy compound also found in red wine, dark chocolate, and green tea.

16. Green Tea: I LOVE GREEN TEA.

Okay, seriously though if you love drinking green tea then there is good news for you.Contrary to common belief that tea dehydrates,green tea provides hydration benefits similar to water.Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, it also has many other health benefits.

So there are a few ideas on how to incorporate more hydration into your diet, I really hope that they helped, and that you enjoyed this article! Now, go eat. <3

Source: http://blog.yonkausa.com/hydrating-foods/#more-686