Our hydration status is the percentage of our body composed of water, which is usually around 60%. Each day, we need to replace the amount of water we lose on a daily basis, through bodily functions like sweating, urinating, and breathing.

Aiming to drink about 64 ounces of water a day is a good general hydration guideline—however, that number can be lower or higher from person to person, depending on a number of factors from how active you are, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, your body type, or the climate you live in. 

Staying sufficiently hydrated helps to keep us active and healthy, while being dehydrated can lead to headaches, cravings, and fatigue. But the truth is that getting sufficient water can be an uphill battle, especially for those that don’t like the taste of plain water.

But thankfully there are many super-hydrating, beverage options that can quench your thirst, and help you hit your daily hydration goals if plain water is not to your taste. Here are some of our favourite suggestions:

Watermelon Is Your Friend

Watermelon is an extremely hydrating food choice, coming in at 92% water. While you can always eat watermelon as is, for a fruity, summery treat, blend watermelon with ice, water, and lemon or lime juice for a refreshing homemade slushie.

Watermelon is also a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant found in red fruits and vegetables, and research has associated lycopene consumption with reductions in blood pressure among other health benefits.

Go Nuts For Coconuts

Coconut water is a natural source of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and manganese, and it’s important to replenish these electrolytes regularly, especially after any excess fluid loss. We naturally lose electrolytes in our sweat, making it harder for our body to retain water, and this is where coconut water comes in, by replacing and restoring balance.

But read the labels and be choosy with coconut water, since many supermarket brands pack in the added sugar for taste, and coconut water high in sugar will actually have the opposite impact and dehydrate you.

We Love Cucumber Juice

Cucumber is another hydration powerhouse consisting of 96% water—the highest water content of any food! You can cut this veggie into slices for easy eating and water infusions, blend it with water or press into a juice for a refreshing sip.

This is a vegetable that hydrates you more than your regular glass of water, making it the perfect summer snack.

Have A Cuppa Iced tea

Both hot tea and iced tea are excellent hydrators, and we especially love sweet ginger and honey and lemon tea. For ginger tea, simply boil several pieces of crushed or finely chopped ginger root until all the delicious goodness from the ginger has seeped out. Switch off the stove, add in a tea bag and honey or brown sugar to taste.

We hope these simple drink suggestions help you stay hydrated, healthy and happy this hot summer season!

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