Femme Plus August 2017 | Page 45

drated you are based upon the concentration of your urine. Next time you visit the little ladies room, have a quick look and make sure your urine is light yellow in color. If it is dark in color, then you are dehydrated and need to increase your water intake. (Also remember that urine will always have a yellow tinge due to the toxins your kidneys have excreted - so don’t aim for completely clear urine!) WATER ALTERNATIVES W hether you don’t like the bland taste of water, or tire of chugging the same drink throughout the day, it can be quite challenging to drink enough water. A simple trick you can do is to add slices of fruit or salad to enhance the flavor such as slices of citrus fruit, cucumber pieces or mixed berries. If you don’t like the taste of water in general, you can also add sparkling water for a more refreshing taste or disguise it with some flavored (sugar-free) cordial. WATER RICH FOODS S omething many of us forget about is that numerous fruits and vegetables contain very high amounts of water, known as ‘water rich’ foods. Through consum- ing such foods we not only increase vital nutrients, but also further enhance our hydration levels. Fruits with the highest water content are watermelon, strawberries and cantaloupe at over 90% water content followed by peaches, pineapple, oranges, raspberries, apricot, blue- berries and plums at over 85% of water content. Veg- page 45