Top 10 Fruits and Vegetables with the Most Water Content

Although most of our bodies are made of water, we still need a lot of it to survive on a daily basis. You probably have heard the story that you have to drink eight glasses (or more) of water per day in order to stay hydrated.

This is partly true if you do not take water in any other forms. In fact, 20{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71} of your daily water intake comes from solid food, mostly fruits and vegetables. That’s why you should “eat your water” instead. Water maintains homeostasis in our bodies and it is of utmost importance that we stay hydrated.

Water deficiency is called dehydration and can cause serious headaches, confusion, appetite loss, excessive tiredness and even seizures. It is also bad for you to consume water in excess. You might experience nausea, vomiting, or muscle cramps.

The U.S. Reference Dietary Intake (RDI) of water is 3.7 liters (15.6 cups) daily for men and 2.7 liters (11.4 cups) for women. In the summer or in some extreme cases, these numbers are higher. Vegetables are an excellent source of water in every season and they often contain more than 90{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71} water. Quench your thirst with these top ten vegetables:

Cucumber (water content: 96.7{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
Cucumber is many people’s summer favorite veggie. It contains the most water of any solid food and you may use it sliced in salads or with hummus. There are also many recipes on how to get hydrated with cucumber. You can try to blend it with mint, nonfat yogurt, and ice cubes to get a good chilled soup for the hot summer days, or at any time of the year.

Iceberg lettuce (water content: 95.6{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
Although not so popular among health experts, this vegetable is full of water. It is not a favorite one because of other green vegetables such as romaine lettuce or spinach, which contain a lot more fiber than iceberg lettuce. However, if you want to get hydrated, this crispy lettuce is the best choice because of the high amount of water. You can use it for making sandwiches, as a tacos wrap, or in burgers.

Celery (water content: 95.4{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
You must have heard the popular saying that celery has negative calories, but let’s see what you are up for with this vegetable. It is a fact that celery comes with only 6 calories in one stalk and it is also full of fiber. In terms of its nutritional value, it contains folate as well as many vitamins, including A, C, and K. Celery can help in neutralizing stomach acid and relieve heartburn or reflux.

Radishes (water content: 95.3{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
If you are a fan of a mixture of spicy and sweet taste in your spring and summer salads, radishes can brighten up your day and give you a new colorful meal. These vegetables are full of antioxidants including catechin (which can also be found in green tea). If you would like a crunchy hydration recipe, mix radishes with summer coleslaw, slicing them up with cabbage and carrots, sliced snow peas, and chopped parsley and hazelnuts. Then use poppy seeds, olive oil, lemon juice and add salt and pepper. Enjoy this beautiful mixture!

Tomatoes (water content: 94.5{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
These vegetables are mostly used for making salads and sandwiches, but it is important to use all of the varieties, including sweet cherry and grape ones, which will help you in the hydration process. You can also mix them with nuts as a snack or some cheese low in sodium. One idea of a recipe is the following: skewer some grape tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil leaves on toothpicks as appetizers or snacks.

Green peppers (water content: 93.3{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
These types of bell peppers have the highest amount of water and contain many antioxidants as the other types of peppers, such as the red and sweet ones. Peppers are great to use as a snack when you have a craving, instead of falling for something sweet and unhealthy. Plus, you will get hydrated and feel refreshed.

Cauliflower (water content: 92.1{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
This white flower-looking vegetable is full of vitamins and phytonutrients that help in fighting cancer, including breast cancer, and lowering cholesterol. Cauliflower is best used in your favorite salad, in order to make it crunchy and get hydrated.

Watermelon (water content: 91.5{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
Surprisingly, it is 8th in the list, but we are all pretty aware about its watery structure. Watermelon is also a rich source of lycopene, which is an antioxidant fighting cancer. Lycopene is mostly found in fruits and vegetables of red color.

Watermelon is somewhat pinkish, but contains more lycopene than regular raw tomatoes. It contains around 12 milligrams per wedge, to be exact, whereas a medium-sized tomato contains around 3 milligrams. If you want, you can also mix this vegetable with water and get a nice refreshing and hydrating drink in the summertime.

Spinach (water content: 91.4{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
Spinach is both green and full of water – a really healthy treat for your body. You can put it in your sandwiches or salads and enjoy its taste. Spinach is not only hydrating but also rich in lutein, fiber, potassium, and brain-boosting folate. One cup raw leaves of spinach can satisfy your daily intake of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals (damaging molecules).

Strawberries (water content: 91.0{30e6b8360db511af0e1f77984c542ff30ea10c4b009d596ff6d5f40eac675d71})
Out of all the berries in the family, strawberries contain the most water. Strawberries can be blended in a smoothie with nonfat yogurt, which is a great hydrating breakfast. It is both sweet and can serve as a post-workout snack because it is a combination of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.





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Source: Diet of Life