7 Hydrating Foods To Add To Your Rotation This Summer

With the approaching hot weather of summer looming, we start to worry about our daily fluid intake. The summer sun is super enjoyable for strolling, swimming, and general cavorting, but it also has a dangerous way of zapping the body of needed fluids. A large segment of the American adult population is walking around chronically dehydrated, and the heat of summer only compounds that problem. Sure, you can drink your hydration — though you may want to check out why orange juice is more hydrating than plain water – but it may also help you to know that you can eat foods high in water content to boost your body's own water levels, keeping you healthy and comfortable through the warmest time of the year. 

The symptoms of dehydration (dizziness, confusion, and fatigue) are nothing to mess with. Luckily, it's both easy and delicious to supplement your water intake with foods that will hydrate you. No need to constantly check our ranking of popular water bottle brands when you can nosh on some easily-available, inexpensive foods that will top off your personal water meter and fill your tummy at the same time. 

Cucumbers, being 96% water, have the highest water content of any solid food. They are also downright delicious. We like to cut them into slices and marinate them in some ginger-soy dressing, but we're also down for snacking on them with just a bit of salt. Keep in mind our list of tips for storing cucumber in the fridge, and you'll always have chilled cukes (the most delicious kind, in our honest opinion!) on hand to help you hydrate through the summer swelter. 

At 92% water, watermelon is a hydration superstar — the proof is right there in the name! There's a long list of watermelon varieties to try, which is a fun way to spend your summer. Cube it up and eat the pieces from a container, try it in a salad with some mint and feta, or grill some thick slabs alongside your burgers and hot dogs ... the possibilities are extensive. Watermelon is a beloved sweet treat that's as summery as cicadas and swimming pools; the hydrating effects are a great bonus.

Red tomatoes are 94% water and are just begging you to sink your teeth in this summer. They're a natural star in salads of all kinds (imagine a chef salad or Caprese skewer without them!), but we're not averse to tomato pie, roasted tomatoes, or tomato sandwiches, either! Tomatoes can be bought at the store, of course, but why not make them the focal point of your garden this summer? 

Not only is cottage cheese 80% water by weight, but it's a protein superstar as well, meaning that you can add muscle-boosting bulk to your diet while upping your hydration! Cottage cheese is naturally low in calories and high in versatility, meaning that there are umpteen ways to incorporate this nutritious, delicious food into your meal plan. Sure, you can nosh on a cup of cheese with either sweet or savory toppings like diced fruit or everything bagel seasoning ... but we like a three-ingredient cottage cheese chocolate mousse. 

Bell peppers average 92% water content, but it may surprise you to know that the green peppers pack the biggest hydration punch! We always love these colorful peppers in our stir fries and stews, but they're also delightful when sliced (maybe following Gordon Ramsay's tip for cutting bell peppers?) and used to shovel hummus or guac. Our advice is to meal prep them on the weekends and keep them cut up in your fridge for easy grabbing when you're feeling snacky. They're crisp, loaded in vitamins, and a great source of unexpected hydration. 

The sweet and juicy navel orange is composed of about 88% water. This isn't surprising when you rehash the fact (already discussed) that orange juice is so very hydrating that it actually trumps water, but eating the fruit is more fun than just drinking it. We love orange with carrot in a sunshine-y soup, with fennel in salads, and paired with balsamic vinegar in a tangy dressing/marinade. 

Strawberries are about 91% water, meaning that these luscious red berries will help you meet your hydration goals. It doesn't get more versatile than strawberries: you can blend them into a sweet smoothie, dice them atop your favorite baked dessert, use them as a sweet element in a salad, or just pop them by the handful. If you keep a carton of washed and hulled strawberries in your fridge, a little hydration is just a moment away.