Eat Your Water: How To Stay More Effectively Hydrated


NBA locker rooms are dripping with more than sweaty jerseys these days. Water-fanatics like the Sixers' T.J. McConnell (he and his teammates favor pH-adjusted alkaline water), Golden State's Steph Curry (filtered water) and current Laker LeBron James (he masks his bottled water's label) have embraced the health benefits of plain water over sports drinks. That's a good practice each of you could follow to improve your digestion, muscle function, and skin, heart and brain health.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some folks need fewer than eight glasses of water daily, and some more. You should always drink when thirsty (more often while exercising or in extreme weather). You can tell if you're hydrated by the color of your urine - pale yellow or colorless means you are doing well.

But all your hydration doesn't need to come from water; you can rely on water-soaked fruits and veggies for around 20% of your daily dose:

* Cucumbers 97.9% water

* Grapefruit 91.5% water

* Celery 95.4% water

* Strawberries 90.9% water

* Summer squash 96% water

* Watermelon 91.4% water

* Tomatoes 95.2% water

* Honeydew 91.8% water

* Rhubarb 93.6% water

* Lettuce 95.6% water

They provide moisture to lubricate your system, fiber to improve your digestion and phytonutrients that allow well-hydrated muscles to become more energetic and powerful. Your brain needs them to receive oxygen, and their nutrients keep you clear-thinking. So drink in all the benefits of staying hydrated with water and water-enriched food.

© 2019 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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