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7 Healthy and Hydrating Foods

  • Broccoli

    Believe it or not, your green childhood nemesis is made of 91% water! Broccoli contains 20 calories per cup and is a great source of fiber, calcium and vitamin C.

    Eat your water: Try this healthy Chinese takeout recipe. It's packed with hydrating broccoli and protein-rich beef!

  • Grapefruit

    Tart and tangy grapefruit is made up of 91% water and only has 104 calories per fruit. Plus, just one serving supplies 120% of your daily value for vitamin C.

    Eat your water: The combination of baby greens and grapefruit make this simple salad recipe a hydration powerhouse.

  • Spinach

    Thirsty? Eat more salad! The humble spinach leaf is made up of 92% water and is just 7 calories per serving. Fill up on leafy greens for a healthy dose of vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber.

    Eat your water: This vegetarian couscous recipe packs in two servings of water-heavy veggies per portion.

  • Eggplant

    Eggplant is one of the most misunderstood vegetables in the produce section. But don't let its shiny purple exterior and spongy texture scare you away! Eggplant is made of 92% water and contains just 20 calories per serving. Incorporate it into your diet for a good source of fiber and antioxidants.

    Eat your water: H2O-rich tomatoes and zucchini add even more hydrating benefits to this veggie-packed stuffed eggplant recipe.

  • Strawberries

    It's no surprise that sweet and juicy strawberries are made up of 92% water. As a bonus, one serving of these ruby-red gems provides you with just 50 calories and nearly 150% of your daily value for vitamin C!

    Eat your water: Refresh and re-hydrate with this low-fat smoothie recipe.

  • Tomatoes

    This saucy Italian-food staple is made up of 94% water! At just 27 calories per serving, tomatoes are a great source of antioxidants, lycopene, and vitamins A and C.

    Eat your water: Get double the hydration from tomato and spinach in this veggie pasta salad recipe.

  • Cucumber

    Made up of 96% water, cucumber is your best friend in hot weather! At 8 measly calories per serving, it's also a great source of fiber and vitamin K, and may help reduce inflammation in the body.

    Eat your water: Cool off and sneak in some extra hydration with this healthy party appetizer--individual cucumber cups!

    This slideshow has been reviewed by Tanya Jolliffe, SparkPeople's healthy eating expert
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7 Healthy and Hydrating Foods

Written by Melinda Hershey, Staff Writer

If you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle, you've probably heard that it's important to drink water. Staying hydrated combats fatigue, flushes out toxins, and can even help you lose weight by enhancing fullness levels (plus, we often mistake thirst signals for hunger signals).

But you don't have to just drink your water--you can eat it, too! There are plenty of nutritious foods that contain a high water content to keep your body functioning at its best. As a bonus, foods that have more water usually have fewer calories than foods that contain less water. Here are seven foods you should munch on to add a little extra H2O to your day.
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Broccoli

Believe it or not, your green childhood nemesis is made of 91% water! Broccoli contains 20 calories per cup and is a great source of fiber, calcium and vitamin C.

Eat your water: Try this healthy Chinese takeout recipe. It's packed with hydrating broccoli and protein-rich beef!