I’m
going to cut to the chase, go out on a limb here, and assume that if you are interested in reading this blog on foods that fight dehydration then you probably already know that water if vital for survival. What you probably want to know is how does food help me with dehydration, right?
Well, throughout my fitness and personal training journey, It made logical sense to me that if we eat foods that have a lot of water in them, then that should benefit us in terms of hydration. We have been told to drink a certain amount of glasses of water a day, then to drink a gallon a day, and then there are others with their opinions and data on what is appropriate. But what about the foods that have water in them? Where do those fit, or do they even fit? I am going to give you three foods that research suggests may help you with dehydration. But first, lets take a quick look at what dehydration is.
What is Dehydration?
Dehydration is the loss or removal of water from something. When it comes to the body, it is defined as a harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body. Remember the intro to this blog when we determined that water is vital for survival, right? Dehydration is really bad for our bodies. Dehydration occurs in all age groups and certain environments can create a greater chance of dehydration.
I have chosen three foods that I believe are more commonly acceptable by the mass majority, foods that I eat, and foods that research shows can have a positive effect on combating your dehydration.
Watermelon
Watermelon has a tremendous amount of water per serving. The source I used for this blog claims that a cup of watermelon has over a half cup of water. Watermelon also has some other key nutrients such as vitamins A and C, magnesium, and fiber.
Cabbage
Pound for pound (using this as a cliché here) cabbage has about as much water per cup as watermelon. Cabbage has a higher fiber content and has key nutrients such as vitamins C and K. Cabbage also has some extra perks such as anti-inflammation properties and antioxidants which may protect against some cancers.
Soups
It makes sense that soups make this list. Usually the first food people think about when someone is sick is chicken noodle soup. Soup is made up of about 92% water per serving and that basically says it all!
Honorable Mentions
These foods are also good for hydration, but they didn’t make my top three because I either don’t eat or like them or I eat and like the above three more. But I want to give you these as options for your selection of foods that fight dehydration. These honorable mention foods are skim milk, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, and celery. Some fruits that I actually love that also aid with hydration includes peaches, strawberries, and cantaloupe. I wanted to give you a few options in my top three of a fruit, a vegetable, and something that could have protein.
Your Action
What can you do with this great information I just gave you? Well, I’m so glad you asked. Provided you don’t have any allergies or health related issues with the three foods mentioned here and your doctor is okay with you eating these, your mission is to find exciting and healthy ways to eat these foods. Here are some of my favorite ways:
Watermelon: I eat my watermelon cut into cubes. I love to eat it poolside on a warm day or just as a dessert or snack when I crave something sweet.
Cabbage: I like my cabbage grilled with olive oil and salt. That’s my favorite way. My next favorite way is probably boiled. I’m a big fan of cabbage so I can eat it in about every way possible.
Soups: My favorite soup is the Japanese Clear Soup you get right before your main meal at Japanese steakhouses. I also like a few soups my wife makes but I can’t remember the names to them at this time. They are fancy!
I hope this information has enlightened and helped you. Please “heart” this blog and feel free to comment with other ways you eat the foods listed here and other helpful information.
Brian "B-Rob" Robinson is a Certified Sports Nutrition Coach, Certified Life Strategies Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Youtuber, and co-founder of LEANWellonline. His YouTube channel is called thisisb-rob.
Sources:
Benelam, B., & Wyness, L. (2010). Hydration and health: A review. Nutrition Bulletin, 35(1), 3-25. doi:10.1111/j.1467-3010.2009.01795.x
Dehydration. (2019, September 19). Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086
Watermelon, raw Nutrition Facts & Calories. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/2072/2
Cabbage, raw Nutrition Facts & Calories. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2371/2
Soup, stock, chicken, home-prepared Nutrition Facts & Calories. (n.d.). Retrieved July 27, 2020, from https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/soups-sauces-and-gravies/7214/2