9 Fertility friendly fruit and veg that help keep your body hydrated

Sue Bedford (MSc Nutritional Therapy)

Water is the most important nutrient for life. It is essential for the efficient operation of many bodily processes, including maintaining body temperature, safeguarding the nervous system, delivering nutrients to cells, removing waste, and supporting conception.

Here are just a few of the numerous benefits of drinking plenty of water throughout the fertility process:

The body’s tissues and organs are kept lubricated and cushioned, hormone delivery is made easier, and follicle development may be improved. Cervical mucus is also produced with the help of water, this is important as sperm are helped to reach the egg by cervical mucus. Ensuring that you are having adequate water each day helps to prevent dehydration which can cause sluggishness, fatigue, and an inability to concentrate. Dehydration of any severity can alter your mood. Because the mind-body connection is so crucial to fertility, maintaining a positive outlook and maintaining optimal physical health can make a big difference.

How much water should I be drinking

A rule of thumb is roughly eight half-pint glasses over a 24-hour period, but this may be slightly different from person to person depending on physical activity, size, climate etc. It’s not all about drinking straight water either as water can be obtained by drinking tea, coffee, juices and many foods are loaded with water. Why not try sparkling water with some added fruit?

9 Fertility Friendly Fruit and Veg that help keep your body hydrated

• Water is abundant in watermelons. They can contain 92%, to be precise. Add to salads, juices or just eat as they are!
• Oranges rank highly on the list of foods that contain water at 87%. These juicy fruits are bursting with flavour, vitamin C, and water, whether you snack on slices or add sparkling segments to your favourite fruit salads!
• Apples contain 80% water. No matter what variety of apples you enjoy eating, eating them has also been shown to aid in weight loss. They have a lot of healthy nutrients like fibre that help feed the good bacteria in your gut.
• Did you know that 110g of celery contains roughly 105g of water?   Snack on celery that has been filled with peanut butter or add chopped celery to your favourite casserole or salad recipes.
• How do you like your eggs in the morning? Whatever your preference happens to be, they contain roughly 75% water!
• Cucumber-are absolutely filled with water – around 95%, actually. That’s all the more reason to enjoy! Why not add to a glass of water with a sprig of mint?
• One of the foods with the most water is mushrooms – roughly 92% in fact! Try adding them to your favourite risotto or simply stuffing them with goat cheese.
• Tomatoes are made up of roughly 95% water. Why not make your own fresh tomato sauce or a tasty salsa?
• Love a strawberry? These gorgeous fruits contain roughly 91% water and are also loaded with vitamin c.