7 foods to help you stay hydrated in the heat

Woman drinking water in the heat

As summer has officially arrived, hot foods that kept you sustained in the previous months don’t seem as appealing. Drinking plenty of water a day can also seem daunting, however there are a number of foods that have a naturally high water content and can help keep you cool. They are also healthy for you too!


Cucumber

Cucumber

With a whopping 95.23% water content, the humble cucumber contains more water than any other solid food. Add to salads, sandwiches, make a creamy yoghurt raita or snack with a hummus dip.

Green Peppers

Green peppers

These are an acquired taste for some as the sweeter red and yellow varieties are preferred. However the green pepper pips them to the post with a slightly higher water content at 93%. Add to salads, wraps or stir-fry them.

Strawberries

Strawberries

Out of all the berries, strawberries have the highest water content at 91% and are synonymous with summer, think (strawberries and cream). They are also a high source of vitamin C and taste great in smoothies.


Iceberg lettuce

Iceberg lettuce

While the nutritional value might not be much to shout about, iceberg lettuce has the highest water content of any lettuce at 95%. Its crispy for the extra crunch in sandwiches and the leaves can be used in place of a tortilla to wrap food.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes

With 94% water content, as these come in all kinds of varieties, if you don’t like normal tomatoes, you can chose whichever takes your fancy. Cherry, grape and vine tomatoes are good small sizes for snacking.

Baby carrots

Baby carrots

Surprisingly baby carrots contain more water than regular carrots at 90%. Their size means they are convenient and ideal for snacking with hummus, with dips, in salads or chutneys.

Watermelon

Watermelon

The clue is in the title for this one! Watermelon contains almost 92% water which also helps you feel full. Packed full of vitamins and minerals it’s great for snacking and is a rich source of the antioxidant lycopene.

These are just a selection of fruits and vegetables with the highest water content that can help you stay hydrated in the summer sun. There are many others to choose from, it just depends which you prefer.

Nowadays supermarkets have more choice than before in the fruit and vegetable aisles, with some more unusual varieties. Take a look at a few in our 5 recipes with unusual fruit and veg blog.

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