By Anne L’Heureux

How to get in enough water…when you don’t like water.

July and August can be some of the hottest months of the year. With heat, comes sweat. And with sweat comes dehydration.

But drinking adequate water can be a challenge, especially for those that don’t necessarily enjoy the taste (or lack thereof) of water. How can you stay on top of your water consumption without toting around a water bottle?

It simple: Eat your water. Here are the top 5 vegetables and fruits with the highest water content:

Vegetables

Ok, so I am going to skip the obvious celery and lettuce and get to some more interesting veggies to keep you craving these beneficial phytonutrients.

Bok Choy 95% water

Radishes 95%

Cucumber 95%

Zucchini 95%

Watercress 95%

Fruits

Watermelon 92% https://life.spartan.com/post/6-reasons-you-should-be-eating-watermelon-right-now

Grapefruit 91%

Cantaloupe 90% (Use link to cantaloupe smoothie video)

Peaches 88% https://life.spartan.com/post/food-of-the-week-video-or-stone-fruit

3 Reasons to Hydrate

Mind: Your brain is made up of 80% water. A hydrated brain is able to conduct the electrical impulses required for optimal memory capacity, quick thinking, and focus.

Body: A healthy body, and gut, needs adequate hydration to repair the stomach lining and keep food moving smoothly through the digestive tract. Hydrated muscle can contract appropriately, making for stronger workouts and faster recovery.

Soul: The same hydration that helps the brain maintain memory and thought, also helps amino acids cross the blood brain barrier. One of these amino acids, tryptophan, converts to serotonin within the brain. Dehydration can limit the amount of tryptophan that can cross the blood brain barrier, resulting in less serotonin. Since serotonin is linked to a positive mood, inadequate hydration can result in feelings often associated with depression.

Check out our grilling guide for 9 recipes guaranteed to drop calories and boost nutrition!

Originally published at life.spartan.com