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Eat Your Water!

by Oasis Wellness Partners on July 20, 2020       Oasis Wellness Partners - Eat Your Water!

Having a Healthy Summer Means Eating Your Water!

We don’t know about you, but we have been feeling very thirsty this summer! Between power walking, running, tennis and swimming, we have needed to increase our hydration to keep up with the demands of our bodies. Water is essential for keeping all of the delicate tissues in the mouth, eyes and nose moist, it helps to lubricate our joints, regulate our body temperature, carry nutrients throughout the body, and aid in flushing out waste and toxins.

Our bodies contain approximately 80% water. Water is essential for a multitude of roles that support and maintain optimal health. Every day we lose a good amount of this water from urination, sweat, and breathing, so it’s important that we replenish to keep our body running optimally.

Most of the water we drink passes right through our body. But the water found in food, especially fruits and vegetables, is surrounded by other molecules that help it get into our cells more easily, and ensure it stays in our system for long enough to be put to good use.

And there’s another problem with drinking large quantities of water in an effort to be hydrated: it tends to deplete the body of important vitamins and minerals because they get flushed out of the body too quickly.

Fruits and Vegetables are Full of Water

But by eating water-rich foods, the water stays trapped in the structure of the foods so it can be absorbed much more slowly. In this way, this ‘structured water’ stays in our bodies far longer. This is smart hydration.

Some studies have found that fruits and vegetables can hydrate the body twice as effectively as a glass of water. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that fruits and vegetables were better able to hydrate school-aged children. 1

Totally pure water, simply H2O, doesn’t exist in nature due to water’s affinity to dissolve and absorb everything with which it comes into contact. It is the “universal solvent”. The highest quality water exists inside of fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables. This is the ideal place to start and why it’s advised to eat your water.

Make sure that you consume four servings (approx. 2 cups) of fruit daily since most options contain between 85 and 90% water (bananas contain just 74%). Doing this will deliver nearly 18 to 20 ounces of water toward your daily target.

When it comes to fruit it’s important to consume it whole instead of as juice (except lemon and lime juice). The dietary fiber slows the release of sugar and provides significant benefits to digestive health. Fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals and cell-protecting antioxidants. Few Americans consume sufficient fruit, despite evidence that fruit-eaters are healthier and have an easier time maintaining a healthy weight.

Watermelons

Watermelon contains 92% water. But beyond this, watermelons also contain essential salts, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, along with vitamin C, beta carotene and lycopene.

Celery

Celery is 96% water and offers sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc, and all in a natural and readily absorbable form.

Bell Peppers

Like watermelons, bell peppers are actually 92% water and rich in important nutrients like vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6, beta carotene, and folic acid.

Other fruits and vegetables that are high in water and essential nutrients:

  • Cucumbers
  • Lettuce
  • Bok-choy
  • Radishes
  • Watercress
  • Zucchini and squash
  • Tomatoes
  • Asparagus
  • Portobello mushrooms
  • Swiss chard
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Turnips
  • Grapefruit
  • Strawberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Honeydew melon
  • Lemons
  • Peaches
  • Asian pears
  • Blackberries
  • Papayas
  • Nectarines
  • Prickly pears
  • Pineapples
  • Plums
  • Oranges

Remember, the thing that makes the structured water in fruits and vegetables so fantastic is that it mimics our own body fluid composition. Because of this, it can be absorbed easily into our cells, instead of getting flushed almost instantly.

Come See Us in Scarborough, Maine

Our wellness center has so much that you need to be and feel your best. From Chiropractic, to Yoga, Health Coaching, to Massage, to Reflexology, EFT, Reiki and Hypnotherapy, we are here to help you live your best life. Slice yourself a piece of watermelon and give us a call at our Southern Maine Wellness Center, Oasis Wellness Partners—(207)883-5549.

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