Health experts commonly recommend that adults drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, although your individual needs may vary. However, many people don’t drink enough water throughout the day, which may lead to dehydration. Dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, and other problems. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough fluids each day. If you find water too bland, you can always eat your way to hydration. There are plenty of fruits that are high in water content and will help keep you hydrated. And to help you get started, we’ve included 7 recipes that include these delicious fruits!
1. Grapefruit – 91% Water Content
Tangy, juicy, and refreshing, grapefruits are on this list for a good reason. These zesty fruits that are a cross between an orange and a pomelo are not only 91% water, but they’re also a great source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients (3). Thanks to their impressive nutritional profile, eating these fruits regularly may:
Support your immune system: Grapefruits are rich in vitamin C, which is known for its immunity-supporting properties.
Improve your eye health: Unlike other citrus fruits, grapefruits contain vitamin A, which is essential for eye health.
Lower your risk of heart disease: The fiber rich-content may help to lower cholesterol levels and keep your heart healthy.
Aid in weight loss: Grapefruits are low in calories and high in water and fiber, making them filling and satisfying.
Improve your gut health: The fiber in grapefruits helps keep things moving along smoothly in your digestive system.
A summertime staple, watermelon is perfect for staying hydrated on a hot day. This refreshing fruit is not only 92% water, but it’s also low-calorie and packed with nutrients. Watermelons are a great source of vitamins C, A, and magnesium, as well as lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and some cancers (16) (18). Eating watermelon regularly may:
Promote healthy skin: Watermelons are rich in vitamins A and C, which are good for healthy skin.
Reduce your risk of chronic diseases: The lycopene in watermelon has been suggested to lower oxidative stress and may be associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers.
Support your immune system: The vitamin C content helps to support your immune system.
Improve your digestion: Watermelons are a good source of fiber, which helps to keep things moving along smoothly in your digestive system.
Aid in weight loss: Watermelons are low in calories and high in water, making them a great choice for those trying to lose weight.
This 2-ingredient watermelon-basil sorbet is the perfect way to stay cool and hydrated all summer long.
Ingredients:
4 cups watermelon, seeds removed and cubed
1 tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
1-2 tablespoons water
maple syrup or honey (optional, if needed
watermelon slices (optional, for serving)
basil or mint leaves (optional, for serving)
Instructions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the watermelon cubes on the sheet. Freeze for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
Place the frozen watermelon cubes, lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of water in a food processor or high-powered blender. Blend until smooth, adding more water if needed.
Taste and sweeten with maple syrup or honey, if desired. Serve immediately in bowls or glasses, garnished with watermelon slices and basil leaves, if desired.
3. Cantaloupe – 90% Water Content
Cantaloupes are a lesser-known member of the melon family, but they’re just as delicious and hydrating as watermelons and honeydews. This sweet, orange-colored fruit is also rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium (5). Eating cantaloupe regularly may:
Promote healthy skin: The vitamins A and C in cantaloupe may help to keep skin looking healthy and hydrated.
Improve your digestion: The high water and fiber content helps to keep things moving along smoothly in your digestive system.
Support your immune system: The vitamin C in cantaloupe helps to support your immune system.
Lower your risk of heart disease: The potassium in cantaloupe helps to manage blood pressure, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.
Aid in weight loss: Cantaloupes are low in calories and high in water, making them a great choice for those trying to lose weight.
Looking for a perfect topping for grilled fish or chicken? This cantaloupe salsa is light, refreshing, and has just the right amount of sweetness. It packs a flavor punch, too!
Ingredients:
2 cups Cantaloupe (diced)
1/4 cup Red onion (diced)
1/4 cup Fresh cilantro (minced)
1 medium Jalapeño (minced)
2 tablespoons Lime juice
sea salt (to taste)
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix until combined.
Season with salt to taste.
Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
If you wish to cinch your waist, tone up your bat wings, blast away the muffin top – our fitness app was created to cater to all your needs! BetterMe won’t give excess weight a chance!
4. Tomatoes – 94% Water Content
You’ll be forgiven for thinking this bright red fruit is actually a vegetable. According to botanists, the presence of seeds makes it a fruit. Nutritionally speaking, tomatoes are a major source of the antioxidant lycopene, as well as vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K (4) (8). Eating tomatoes regularly may:
Reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer: The lycopene in tomatoes is thought to reduce the risk of both heart disease and some cancers.
Help with blood pressure control: The potassium in tomatoes helps lower high blood pressure.
Prevent birth defects in unborn children: Pregnant women who consume tomatoes get a dose of folate, which can help prevent birth defects in their unborn children. It’s not a substitute for your prenatal vitamin, though.
Keep your bones healthy: The vitamin K in tomatoes helps keep bones healthy and strong.
Bring to a simmer and cook until soup is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Carefully transfer soup to a blender (in batches, if necessary) and blend until smooth.
Return soup to pot and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve garnished with basil leaves.
5. Strawberries – 91% Water Content
These little pink fruits are not only delicious, but they’re also full of water which makes them a great choice for staying hydrated. Strawberries are also a good source of vitamins, fiber, and particularly high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols (11), which may:
Help to keep your heart healthy: The polyphenols in strawberries have been suggested to help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Help to keep your bones healthy: Strawberries are a source of calcium and vitamin K, both of which are essential for keeping bones healthy.
Help to keep your skin healthy: The antioxidants in strawberries may help protect your skin from damage caused by the sun and free radicals.
Boost your brain power: The polyphenols in strawberries have been suggested to help improve cognitive function.
Whip out the blender for this refreshing summer drink! Made with just four ingredients, it comes together in minutes and is perfect for a hot day.
Ingredients:
2 cups quartered fresh strawberries
1/4 cup water (can also use coconut water, sparkling water or kombucha)
1 – 3 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)
2 – 3 cups ice cubes
Instructions:
Add the strawberries, water and honey to a blender and blend until smooth.
Add the ice cubes and blend again until desired consistency is reached.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy as is or top with additional fresh strawberries.
6. Starfruit – 91% Water Content
Starfruit, also known as carambola, is a tropical fruit that’s native to Southeast Asia. It’s yellow-green in color with a star-shaped cross-section. Starfruit is low in calories and fat but high in water content and fiber.
It contains Vitamin B5, a water-soluble vitamin that helps the body metabolize fats and carbohydrates. Starfruit is also a good source of antioxidants, flavonoids, and carotenoids (7 ) (9). Eating star fruit frequently may:
Help to keep your heart healthy: The antioxidants in starfruit are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Help to keep your skin healthy: The antioxidants in starfruit may help protect your skin from damage caused by the sun and free radicals.
Boost your brain power: The flavonoids in starfruit have been suggested to help improve cognitive function.
Lower inflammation: The antioxidants in starfruit may help reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Oranges are a popular citrus fruit that’s known for its vitamin C content. But did you know that oranges are also a great source of hydration? Oranges are made up of 87% water, making them a great choice for people who are looking to increase their water intake. In addition to being a good source of hydration, oranges also contain Vitamin A, B vitamins, potassium, and fiber (1) (10). Eating oranges may:
Help to keep your heart healthy: The antioxidants in oranges are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Help to keep your bones healthy: oranges are a source of calcium, which is essential for keeping bones healthy.
Help to keep your skin healthy: The antioxidants in oranges may help protect your skin from damage caused by the sun and free radicals.
Support your immune system: The Vitamin C in oranges can help support your immune system.
Lower inflammation: The antioxidants in oranges may help reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Start your day hydrated with this refreshing morning orange drink. Made with freshly squeezed oranges, this drink is a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin C.
Ingredients:
6 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup cold water
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 ice cubes
Instructions:
In a blender, combine orange juice, water, milk, sugar, vanilla extract and ice cubes. Blend until smooth.
Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
The Bottom Line
Hydrating fruits is a great way to increase your water intake. These 7 fruits are high in water content and will help keep you hydrated. Try any of the recipes above to get your daily dose of fruit and hydration.
DISCLAIMER:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not serve to address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on for making any kind of decision-making. Any action taken as a direct or indirect result of the information in this article is entirely at your own risk and is your sole responsibility.
BetterMe, its content staff, and its medical advisors accept no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, misstatements, inconsistencies, or omissions and specifically disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal, professional or otherwise, which may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and/or application of any content.
You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or your specific situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of BetterMe content. If you suspect or think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor.
I've struggled to maintain programs before, but somehow I've been able to stick with this. I enjoy the workouts and have made healthy changes to my diet with the challenges. Its nice for something to really have stuck and worked. I did the sugar free challenge and it's really changed how I relate to the signals my body is giving me about the food I'm eating.
Our Journey
Alain
This has been an awesome journey for my wife and I. Not only are we losing weight , but we are living a new life style. Our eating habits have been reformed by following the meal plan and our bodies have become stronger by simply doing the ten minute, sometimes twenty minute workouts. It really has been easy and convenient to transition into a healthier routine and has truly re energized our lives moving forward into the future.
It Works! This program is working for me!
lynne R.
This program is working for me! After a little over a month, I have lost 10 pounds. Slow, but steady. Guided exercises are done daily and there is an option to do other routines beside the one chosen for the day. It is very helpful having the recipes for all meals plus a snack. Would like if we could know the ingredients the day before. Makes preparing alot easier. I like the fact that alternative foods are suggested in case you can't eat(or don't like) the recipes listed. This is a very good program. Stick to it and YOU will see results. I have!