Hate Water? Eat These Foods

I hate drinking water. Let me rephrase that. Water bores me (and those lemon slices aren’t fooling me). I feel fine if I go a day without, but I do feel sickeningly full after drinking even one glass. Do I really need as much as everyone says I do? Equipped with the world’s smallest bladder and a taste for more adventurous flavors, I reached out to nutritionist Paula Simpson to discover a sneaky way around pounding H20.

Obviously, I was reprimanded for not drinking enough water. “Your body is close to 70-percent water and the general rule of thumb is to consume eight to 12 glasses per day to prevent dehydration,” says Simpson. “But it depends on your lifestyle—how active you are, where you live, your age.” Sitting at a computer most of the day might mean I need to drink less, right? Not right. Not drinking water is secretly making me feel like crap. “Quite often you are already dehydrated before your thirst mechanism kicks in. Sluggishness, digestive disturbances, headaches, or dizziness can be symptoms.” Ok, so I’ve been known to get a migraine or two and lazy Netflix marathons are my jam.

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Luckily, there’s a way around my fear of water. “Fruits and vegetables can contain over 90% water,” says Simpson, citing tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries, celery, and zucchini as the most hydrating. She says that up to 20-percent of my daily water intake can come from the delicious produce I intend to fill up on this summer.

“Since all systems of your body depend on water, these fruits and veggies help to carry oxygen and nutrients to cells, regulate body temp, provide a healthy environment for the body tissues and joints, and flush out toxins,” says Simpson. (Click here for a handy chart of foods with the highest water content.)

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In a last ditch attempt to change my mind, Simpson babied me with some water drinking tips. “Sipping fluids throughout the day before you are thirsty will help the body maintain hydration,” she says. “The body will utilize water quickly, so if you are dehydrated it won’t take long to get the body back to balance.” As for that oft-cited fact that tepid water is the best water, Simpson says, “Some experts believe room temperature is better for absorption and bioavailability. I prefer water at room temperature, however if that is the only thing challenging you to drink fluids then I would suggest you drink it cold.”

OK, time for a big fruit salad—and fine, maybe a cold glass of water on the side.

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