As the summer heat approaches, we are constantly looking for beverages to cool us off and keep us hydrated. But what we don’t want are beverages that are going to put weight on us. If you are like many of my patients who have spent the last couple of months gearing up to feel comfortable going poolside, the last thing you want is to sabotage all your hard work.
So what should a savvy, health-conscious individual grab to keep cool?
1. Fresh fruits & vegetables
Definitely not a beverage, but many fruits and veggies are made up of predominantly water – as much as 95% – so they definitely can count as one. Opt for tomatoes, celery, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, watermelon, and grapefruit, which have some of the highest water content. However, you honestly can’t go wrong with any type of fruit or veggie. Just make sure that you are watching your portion size with fruit, because more is not necessarily better and calories can add up.
2. Water, sparkling water, & seltzer
No limits here, as most people aren’t drinking nearly enough water. You probably have heard of the eight cups per day rule, but that doesn’t really hold true anymore. It is a good guideline, but on really hot days, especially if you are active, you probably need more. For those who don’t like the taste of water, I always recommend flavoring it with fresh produce, i.e. lemon, lime, watermelon, strawberries or cucumber and/or try subbing the seltzer or sparkling water for the flat water.
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