Some people can’t stand drinking normal, plain old water (cough, cough…Buzz Adams). But I have good news for Buzz and for those of you who also want to survive on this planet while avoiding the experience of drinking water as much as possible.
There isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all answer to how many glasses of water we should all be drinking. A general guideline is to aim for about 8 glasses, which is equivalent to about 64 ounces or about 2 liters of water.
So what happens if you hatred the taste of water?
Huffpost.com did the research and came up with a list just for you. Here are 8 foods that are surprisingly hydrating — so make sure you stock up on them for summer.
1. Plain yogurt (plain or Greek) – According to registered dietitian Kayley Myers, “Yogurt is a surprising food that can help you increase your fluid intake. Because it is made from milk, yogurt is about 85% liquid. A 1-cup serving of plain yogurt contains just over 3/4 cup of water. This is also a great way to get protein, calcium and probiotics into your diet.”
2. Cauliflower – Cauliflower isn’t as obviously water-dense as tomatoes or cucumbers, but whether you enjoy it grilled, boiled, baked or riced, “it’s still over 90% water,” says Megan Wong, a registered dietitian at AlgaeCal.
3. Bone Broth – This one doesn’t seem surprising, but it still makes the list. “Any food that is liquid at room temperature counts as liquid,” said Natalie Allen, clinical assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics in the Department of Public Health and Sports Medicine at Missouri State University, noting that soups and stews are good for hydration.
4. Kimchi – Although cabbage is the main ingredient in kimchi, I found it surprising that the hydrating water would survive the fermentation process. But there is! “Kimchi is a delicious way to improve your hydration while getting friendly bacteria that support gut health,” said Stephanie Meyers, senior clinical dietitian and nutritionist at Iris by OncoHealth.
5. Salmon – Magnesium, like sodium, is a nutrient that promotes hydration throughout the body. And, according to Sara Barthel, functional medicine nutritionist, “foods like salmon contain both potassium and magnesium.”
6. pretzels – This seems fishy… but according to Certified Registered Dietitian Anne Murray, “Salt helps retain water, keeping you hydrated longer!” Sodium is an electrolyte, and one of its functions is to hydrate the body by transporting water to the cells, according to Cedars-Sinai.
7. Chia seeds – “Chia seeds are not only a great source of protein, fiber and omega-3 fats, they’re also amazing for hydration,” said registered dietitian Sheri Berger. “When chia seeds sit in water for a while, they absorb the liquid and form a gel.”
8. Coffee – Yes, you read that right. Caffeinated coffee is not the anti-hydration diet item you might expect. Caffeine is a diuretic that causes water to be excreted from the body. “But the water loss it causes is short-lived,” says Joan Salge Blake, program director and clinical professor of nutrition at Boston University. “In other words, caffeine does not cause significant body water loss over the course of a day compared to decaffeinated beverages.”
