▲

The importance of water in our diets is hard to exaggerate. With the human body composed of up to 60% water, H2O is essential and hydration key to leading a healthy, happy life. For those of us who enjoy drinking water, this is great news. However, for those of us who don't like the taste of water (or lack thereof), or are simply indifferent to it, it can be difficult to take in as much water as the body needs.

Of course, there is no substitute for water and it's important to aim for at least two liters a day. However, there are other water sources that can complement drinking water in a pretty powerful way.

Check out this gallery for some easy ways to hydrate without drinking water.

▲

If you're looking to hydrate without drinking water, a great place to start is by drinking tea. Since tea is technically 100% water flavored with herbs, it's a great H2O alternative.

▲

Whether it's black tea you like, or you prefer a ginger tea with a dash of lemon, there's something for everyone. It's important to avoid adding sugar though, since sugar is dehydrating.

▲

Don't worry about the caffeine in tea–while caffeine is rumored to dehydrate us, there is no scientific evidence that it does. The worst it will do is make you need to urinate more often.

▲

Many people out there will tell you not to drink coffee if you're dehydrated. It is not a bad option, however, since coffee is brewed with that all-important water.

▲

It is, of course, important not to drink too much coffee, since an overload can lead to health problems such as headaches, stomach upset, and insomnia.

▲

As with tea, there is a myth that the caffeine in coffee will dehydrate you. Don't be fooled: you may need to urinate more often, but that does not mean you're not hydrated.

▲

Milk is a great way to stay hydrated. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that milk may be even more hydrating than water itself!

▲

This is because milk contains some proteins and fats that the body takes longer to digest, meaning that when you drink milk the body stays hydrated for longer.

▲

If you find it difficult to down a glass of milk, try to find other ways to incorporate it into your diet. A breakfast of cereal doused in milk is a good option, for example.

▲

Eating fruit is a great way to increase your water intake. There are lots of fruits that have a high water content. Watermelon in particular has a water content of 92%.

▲

Other great options are pineapples, apples, pears, cucumbers, and strawberries. Why not chop up some different fruits and toss them together for a healthy and hydrating dessert?

▲

It may sound counter-intuitive, but even dehydrated fruits can hydrate us. With a water content of around 15%, they won't do as well as fresh fruit, but they're better than nothing.

▲

Fresh vegetables, too, have a high water content. When it comes to hydrating veggies, your best bets are bell peppers, squash, and celery.

▲

Why not dice some veggies and serve as a side for tonight's dinner? You can even incorporate them into your go-to pasta or pizza dishes.

▲

If you're looking for a particularly hydrating snack, opt for celery and peanut butter. It's super healthy, hydrating, and not to mention delicious.

▲

Unsurprisingly given what's gone before, a leafy salad is also a great option for hydration, since leafy greens are mostly water. Mix them with fresh veggies for a tasty, hydrating side.

▲

With a water content of 96%, iceberg lettuce is one of the most hydrating foods out there. Admittedly, it's not the most flavorsome, so don't be afraid to mix it with other ingredients.

▲

When dressing your salad, be careful to avoid dressings that are high in sugar or salt, since these will just dehydrate you. A great alternative is olive oil on its own.

▲

Unsurprisingly given their liquid state, soups are also very hydrating. Clear soups such as chicken noodle are the best, since they have the highest water concentration.

▲

As a general rule, the thicker the soup the less hydrating it is. Thankfully, there are lots of clear, hydrating soup options that aren't chicken noodle, such as minestrone or cabbage soup.

▲

It is best to avoid canned soups, since these tend to be high in sodium or sugar. If you do have to go for a canned soup, be sure to opt for the 'light' version.

▲

A more unusual option is apple sauce. Great on the side of a pork chop or as a snack on its own, it is difficult to find a more hydrating foodstuff than apple sauce.

▲

Apples are already a great source of hydration, and with the addition of water to make the sauce, it just gets better and better.

▲

What's more, it's possible to add a sprinkle of sugar or cinnamon to an apple sauce without drastically altering its water content and taking away its hydrating quality.

▲

Another great snack for hydration is yogurt. Regular yogurt is slightly more hydrating than Greek yogurt, but there's barely anything in it, so either is a good option.

▲

You might find yogurt on its own a little uninteresting, particularly if you eat it regularly, so why not toss in some fresh fruits or berries. They'll only hydrate you more!

▲

And thankfully for those who eat yogurt all the time, or who don't like the taste of a particular flavor, there are lots of different flavors to choose from.

▲

As a general rule, meat is not a great option when it comes to staying hydrated. However, some options are better than others; a tender chicken breast is a strong choice.

▲

While meat is not great for hydration, there is no need to cut it out completely. You should try not to eat more than three portions of red meat per week, however.

▲

You should also avoid salting your meat, since the higher the salt content the more dehydrating your meat dish will be.

Sources: (WikiHow)