When the weather heats up in the summer, it’s especially important to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated will give you energy in the heat, and keep your skin looking radiant and beautiful. Obviously water is the best source of hydration, but there are lots of foods you can eat that will help keep you hydrated in the summer months. Here’s a list of some of my faves to help get you started!
1. Cucumbers:
Like most fruits and vegetables, cucumbers are made up of mostly water. But they also has a lot of other nutrients that will hydrate and nourish the body. Cucumbers contain vitamin C. They’re also rich in caffeic acid, which helps soothe the skin. They are great to eat plan, or on top of salads. You can even add cucumber to your water for a refreshing summer drink!
2. Coconut Water:
For centuries, people in Southeast Asian and Pacific Island countries have been drinking the water from young coconuts for hydration. It’s one of the best ways to replace the water and electrolytes the body gives off in hot climates. Coconut water contains vitamins, minerals and electrolytes that perfectly replenish the body after a long day in the sun. These days coconut water is easy to find. Most grocery and health food stores sell it bottled in the beverage section.
3. Watermelon:
Watermelon is one of the most hydrating foods out there. It’s made up of mostly water, but it also has essential hydrating salts, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. It’s perfect for those hot summer days when you need to replenish your body. Just remember, like all fruit, eat it on an empty stomach! If you want an explanation see my previous blog post, I explain in rule #5.
4. Glowing Green Smoothie:
Many of you have tried my glowing green smoothie, because I write about it so much on this blog and in my book. But that’s because it has amazing health benefits, and its packed with many of the other items on this list. It’s hydrating, and it’s absolutely packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber to keep your body refreshed and your skin glowing. I recommend drinking a GGS first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. That way the body can absorb all of the amazing benefits first thing!
5. Cabbage:
Cabbage is an amazing vegetable to eat anytime. It’s known to lower cholesterol, and its packed with tons of vitamin C, making it an amazing beauty food. It also helps repair the body from the inside out. Incorporating cabbage into your diet can help you lose weight because its packed with fiber and natural probiotics, and it will make your skin look beautiful and more radiant. The best way to eat cabbage is raw, in a fresh salad, or on top of a green salad. It makes for a great appetizer or lunch! Try also making Probiotic & Enzyme Salad.
6. Iced Rooibos Tea:
If you get thirsty, but want a little more than water, iced rooibos tea is a great option. It’s a full-bodied, caffeine-free tea that’s very refreshing and hydrating, plus, it’s packed with antioxidants. It’s also filled with minerals and vitamins C to keep you refreshed and hydrated all day long. Its great hot or iced, and if you want to add some extra sweetness, I recommend using stevia. To learn more about the benefits of stevia instead of Splenda, see my previous post.
7. Green Salad:
Most lettuce contains more than 90% water. So not only do green salads make for a delicious appetizer, snack, or lunch, but they also keep you hydrated in the summer weather. Lettuce also contains fiber, which will help keep you fuller longer. Eating salad will keep you healthy all around, just make sure you use a beautifying dressing, like Kim’s Classic Dressing or my Basil Lover’s Dressing.
8. Apples:
Apples may seem like a basic, everyday fruit, but there’s a reason behind the old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The juicy fruits are a refreshing food to eat year-round. They also have been linked to lowering cholesterol levels, weight loss, and preventing cardiovascular disease and even cancer. Green apples are lower in sugar than red apples.
9. Red Bell Peppers:
All bell peppers are hydrating sources of some of the best nutrients for the body. They contain vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6, beta-carotene and folic acid. Red bell peppers are even better because they contain lycopene. Add red bell peppers to your salads, or eat them plain, they make a crunchy and refreshing midday snack!
10. Pineapples:
Pineapples are a delicious summer fruit. On top of the hydrating elements of pineapple, it is packed with bromelain. Bromelain has many health benefits, mainly helping with digestion. Pineapple is a great fruit to eat to help the body naturally detoxify itself and lose weight.
11. Grapefruit:
The juicy, sometimes sour grapefruit has lots of health and hydration benefits. They are known to help control appetite, which help keep you on track if you’re trying to loose weight. Grapefruits make great snacks in between meals. Just remember to eat them on an empty stomach! I tried to put one once in the GGS at it was not so good…so I don’t recommend that however!
12. Celery:
Celery gets a reputation for being “negative calories.” That’s because it’s almost all water, and it takes a lot of energy to crunch and swallow! But the refreshing veggie also provides lots of mineral salts, vitamins and amino acids. Celery is a great snack to rehydrate and rejuvenate the body and the skin.
13. Water with Lemon:
It may seem like a no-brainer that water would be one of the most hydrating food and drinks, but I cant stress enough the importance of drinking water. Many people spend hours out in the sun, at the beach, hiking or playing sports. The heat will cause you to sweat out even more water, so its vital that you nourish the body with water. Adding lemon to water adds vitamin C and citric enzymes. Drink water close to room temperature so your body doesn’t have to expend energy stabilizing it to your body’s temperature.
14. Berries:
Also packed with water, berries contain high levels of antioxidants, which can help the body naturally detoxify itself. Berries also deliver tons of fiber, which can help you stay satisfied in between meals. Be sure to stock up on ripe, organic raspberries, strawberries blueberries and blackberries for the summer months when they’re in season!
15. Carrots:
Carrots may seem like a dense vegetable, but they are actually very hydrating. They are almost 90 percent water. And they have tons of beta-carotene, more than any other vegetable. Beta-carotene helps the eye sight, along with helping to protect against cancer. I like to julienne cut carrots into my salads.
Whenever you are feeling sluggish or slow, you may also want to try a water cleanse to rejuvenate yourself!
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Thank you so much for this post! Honestly Kimberly, you have changed my life in so many ways! I’ve never felt this good! 🙂 If I only knew that eating this clean will make me feel good, I would have done it a long time ago! Eating raw has changed me in so many ways! My confidence level is up, thanks to YOU! x
Sam
Hey Sam, that is fantastic!! Great to hear it. When we know better we can do better. I’m excited for your new life. 🙂
Hi Kim,
As far as lemon & water is concerned, is it ok to add a dash of stevia to sweeten?
Love your blog!
~namaste
Hey Tanya, absolutely!!
Hi! I love your book and the blog. You are full of amazing information. Question… do the vegetables in the probiotic and enzyme salad have to be organic? I’m on a budget, and cabbage is on the clean 15 list, but I don’t know if you think it is safe to ferment generic produce. Thanks, and keep up the good work girl!
Hey Caroline, Thanks! Yes, wash your cabbage really well by soaking in a rinse with veggie wash or diluted apple cider vinegar for at least 45 minutes. You can (and should) still make it!
xx Kimberly
Just found your site and I’m in love with it! You are absolutely beautiful!
Thanks Charissa! Come visit me again. 🙂
Hi
I love grapefruit in my green smoothie kye is the mint leaves I put spinach, salad mint leaves even dry are ok, stevia!!! celery, banana, try it it is wonderful
We have tons of wildcrafted blueberries over here they much much more dar blue in colour you have blue tongue for 2 days from them, they grow in woods here so I have like 15 pounds of blueberries ( my lovely mom pick them up for me) I am going to freeze part of them. Also strawberriey grow in wood here, but they are smaller then normal and much more sweeter. So now when they are in season I eat them lot and save pineapples for later months
I love carrots, I never knew they were 90% water. Cucumber and cabbage have vitamin C. Is there ever going to be a chance you do a blog on Iron or Vitamin D food. I know Vitamin D best source come from the sun. Thank you I always Learn something new from you Kim!
HI Andrea, sure, I can work it into the mix. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hey Kimberly–
Many times you’ve talked about avoiding those premade bottled juices (like Odwalla). But we don’t have those fresh baby coconuts here–are the bottled coconut waters ok?
Hey Morgan, yes my love- do VitaCoco in cartons. I don’t like the Naked brand b/c it just says “pasteurized” vs “gently pasteurized” that the other brands say, and I personally don’t like taste as much. xx
Hi Kimberly, I love your book and your blog! I am reading your book right now and have a question about the food pairing. I start my morning w/ fruit, wait half hour, and then eat flaxseed toast with Trader Joe’s Better than Peanut Butter. You say not to mix protein and starch, though – should I cut that out of my diet?
Thanks so much!
Yet another wonderful post. We’re getting all those things around here. My kids are even enjoying berries as if they were dipping dots. You should check out my video of my daughter eating them. Too cute 🙂
I just bought your detox book on sunday and am making a valiant effort to follow your directions on eating and just being. Honestly even though I haven’t finished the book I started just eating better and making conscious better choices and my energy level and brain awareness improved immediately. One true beauty story really sounded exactly like me and reading that she succeeded really made me realize that I can do it too! I cannot wait to purchase a blender to begin using your green smoothie. I’m getting back into yoga mainly to de-stress but also for exercise and in general your book is changing my life in so many ways.
HI Jessamyn, that is so fantastic! Making conscious choices and doing the best we can every day will change our lives. I”m so happy to hear that. Stay on the path and stay connected !
Love, Kimberly
Hi Kim,
I just read BTS and am following the Blossoming Beauty phase. Is it ok to drink hot lemon water throughout the day, or only in the morning on an empty stomach?
Hey Evonne, you can drink throughout the day!
Hi Kim,
I absolutely love your book. It really is making sense to me. I’m in the very beginning stages and I noticed a comment above about Naked juices. How do you feel about Boathouse Farms Green Goodness smoothie? Wondering if I’m running late in the am to work, if it’s an OK alternative to your Green smoothie?
Many thanks,
Jenna
Kim,
What do you think of mushroom powder? I understant it’s a great souce of vitamin D.
Thanks,
Peggy
Great Food tips for health
Hi Kimberly!
For those looking for Roobios tea, I found a good one made by Republic of Tea called “Get Lost.” It also has cinammon and carob. It is spicy and good.
Thanks for your blog. I especially love your tips of the day I get on my Facebook news. The information is great, plus it reminds me to stay on track. Keep up the good work!
Amy
Hi Kimberly! I love your book! I was wondering, can I use coconut water instead of water in the GGS? What are your thoughts on aloe water? Can I use aloe water in place of water in the GGS?
THANK YOU!
Hi Kim,
Thankyou for a wonderful. I recently bought it and I think its one very well written book on raw food. It is one book that is very thourouly researched. I also wanted to know does this diet plan good for people with IBS and which phase should i start the diet.
Thankyou
Shweta
Love this list! I’m new to your site but I already love it! You’ve got great tips! 🙂
Kim, your site is fantastic. I love the fact that you teach wellness, nutrition and beauty as a complete lifestyle!
I’m so glad I found and subscribed to this site today!
Wonderful tips for healthy summer eating and educational!
I’ll add your eating suggestions to my exercise routine!
Tks Angela, New York
Hi Kim,
So I am reading and loving your book and my husband is whipping me up batches of your glowing green smoothie!! The comments I am getting from people about my weight and skin are just ridiculous!
True story: after running around, like crazed person, after my two young children, I dashed into the hair salon for a quick blow out (preservation of sanity). My hair stylist actually thought I had just come from the spa?!
I am also back to my extremely elusive pre pre pregnancy weight! (the weight i was before i started to have children) but i have to say that while the glowing skin was all your method, I had been working on the weight prior to discovering you on hoda and kathilee! However, for the short while I have been eating the beauty detox way has definately made it so much easier and completely eliminated the “ugh I am on a diet” feeling!!
Please keep doing what you are doing and keep writing and sharing!
Hi Kim,
I just had my first GGS today, it made enough for 5 glasses just over a litre, I had 3 for breakfast and 2 for lunch (kept them in the fridge). I have to say the cold ones were better. I think I put too much parsley and coriander (have a terrible habit of using the whole packet to save waste). I think my pear wasn’t as ripe as it could have been but I couldn’t wait for it to ripen. It was a little grass tasting!! I’m going to try some kale tomorrow and less of the parsley and coriander.
Anyway is it ok to drink it all in one day like that and eat a normal evening meal?
Why do you say take out the core of the pear/apple? I usually just leave them in as the Vitamix can handle it. (Love my Vitamix). Is it bad for me?
I’d love your opinion on my usual smoothie recipe:
Half blender of spinach
1 apple
1/4 pineapple
inch cucumber
1 1/2 inch root ginger peeled
2 limes peeled
1 avocado
1 stick celery
1 teaspoon spirulena
Some fruit juice
The ginger and lime is the main taste that comes through and I make sure they are dominant by adding more if necessary, the avocado gives good texture and spirulena some extra goodness. I’d like to loose weight and improve my health, it’s really important as I have Fibromialgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis and it’s really time I took better control of my body. So are any of my ingredients a no no on the weight loss front?
Oh and I add some milled mixed seeds sometimes.
I’d like to make your GGS for the morning and then maybe follow up with another recipe like mine or one that has flax/hemp oil/seeds.
Please help, I want some energy and to get rid of the pain and drop the extra weight too.
Finally, thanks so much for your list of 15 hydrating foods/drink – it was really educational and so kind of you to share such important information.
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What is coconut water suppose to taste and smell like? As well as the Probiotic and Enzyme Salad?
Hi I love these tips very refreshing… but eat plan cucumber, I think u mean plain ?
Will try to experiment with smoothies using these ingredients… Many thanks.
Thanks for this information. My mother is 90 years old and has a hard time staying hydrated. This information will help me care for her!
thanks.. these are really helpful.. and these fruits n veggies r easily available too.. thanks ones again.. u made my summer easy..
Music started playing any time I opened this internet site.
Thanks for sharing this great information. Get hydrate is important in summer. our body needs to hydrate time to time.
Thanks for your kind feedback. Lots of love to you! 😉