Water Through Food: Chef Shares Water-Rich Dishes To Help You Stay Hydrated

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — As a heat wave continues to hit Southern California, it is essential for residents to keep hydrated.

Whether due to the drought or personal preference, some people have a difficult time getting enough drinking water. However, a chef for celebrities is sharing tips and recipes to help people get more water through eating the right foods.

Jackie Keller of Nutrifit in West Los Angeles has grown a reputation for creating meals to assist both actors and athletes achieve their peak potential.

Keller suggests that, while staying hydrated in the heat of Southern California is important, that hydration does not necessarily always have to come from a glass.

Water-rich fruits and vegetables, including watermelon, cucumber, papaya, bell pepper and others, can also help people acquire the water their bodies need.

"(These are) nature's packets of vitamins, minerals that help us stay healthy," Keller said.

While many of these foods are more than 90% water, they also provide large amounts of fiber.

"It slows the digestion of the fluid," Keller said. "It keeps our blood sugar a little bit more level, and that helps with our satiety; feeling fuller longer."

Keller does not recommend juices or soft drinks for means of keeping yourself hydrated.

"Liquid calories can be nutrient deficient," Keller said.

Most all of these water-rich dishes are also easy to prepare. For example, you can make a tropical salad in mere minutes.

Start with diced Mexican papaya, add mango, cucumber, peppers and lime juice, and then finish by adding shredded coconut.

"(The salad has) high water content, extraordinary vitamin-A and vitamin-C content, and a great crunch, a great texture," Keller described.

For those craving more spice in their water-rich snack, you can try Jackie's original Fire and Ice salad.

Start with diced watermelon, then add bell pepper. The "fire" comes in the form of jalapeno peppers.

For more information on NutriFit, visit their website here.

For further recipes for healthy, water-rich foods, visit their recipes section here.