The Best Food for Runners

Eat Your Water

Hydrating foods provide plenty of fluid and healthy nutrients to fuel hot summer runs

By Leslie Goldman

1 of 7

Eat Your Water // man and woman eating watermelon c Thinkstock

Image: Thinkstock

Here's some juicy news: Drinking water isn't the only way to stay hydrated. According to the Institute of Medicine, 20 percent of your water intake comes from food. "Eating a three-ounce cucumber is like drinking three ounces of water, but better," says Howard Murad, MD, author of The Water Secret. Besides being water-rich, vegetables, fruits, and a few other key foods contain nutrients that can boost a runner's performance and health. In addition to filling your water bottle, add these foods to your diet for hydration, nutrients, and a tasty change of pace.

More: Got a blender handy? Try these delicious post-run smoothie recipes.

1 of 7

Keywords:

More From

	Related Program
	5-K Jumpstart If you’re new to running, signing up for a race is the perfect way to kick off your routine and boost motivation. The Runner's World 5-K Training Jumpstart will help get you started—in just 2 weeks!

sites/default/files/opening-couple-eating-watermelon-th.jpg

%5B%7B%22link%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F27%5C%2Fmeatless-monday-five-bean-salad%5C%22+title%3D%5C%22Meatless+Monday%3A+Five-Bean+Salad%5C%22%3EMeatless+Monday%3A+Five-Bean+Salad%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%22image%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F27%5C%2Fmeatless-monday-five-bean-salad%5C%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fsites%5C%2Fdefault%5C%2Ffiles%5C%2Ffive-bean-salad-meatless-monday-juicebar_1.jpg%5C%22+%5C%2F%3E%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22link%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F24%5C%2Ffitstreak-weekend-workout-hot-body-workout%5C%22+title%3D%5C%22%23Fitstreak+Weekend+Workout%3A+The+Hot-Body+Workout%5C%22%3E%23Fitstreak+Weekend+Workout%3A+The+Hot-Body...%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%22image%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F24%5C%2Ffitstreak-weekend-workout-hot-body-workout%5C%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fsites%5C%2Fdefault%5C%2Ffiles%5C%2Ffitstreak-weekend-workout-hot-body-juicebar.jpg%5C%22+%5C%2F%3E%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22link%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F23%5C%2Ffitstreak-day-23-tone-your-body-your-body%5C%22+title%3D%5C%22%23Fitstreak+Day+23%3A+Tone+Your+Body...with+Your+Body%5C%22%3E%23Fitstreak+Day+23%3A+Tone+Your+Body...with...%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%22image%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F23%5C%2Ffitstreak-day-23-tone-your-body-your-body%5C%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fsites%5C%2Fdefault%5C%2Ffiles%5C%2Ffitstreak-tone-your-with-your-body-day-23-juicebar_3.jpg%5C%22+%5C%2F%3E%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22link%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F22%5C%2Fwednesday-workout-modern-family%5C%22+title%3D%5C%22Wednesday+Workout%3A+Get+Fit+While+Watching+TV%5C%22%3EWednesday+Workout%3A+Get+Fit+While...%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%22image%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F22%5C%2Fwednesday-workout-modern-family%5C%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fsites%5C%2Fdefault%5C%2Ffiles%5C%2Fwed_5.jpg%5C%22+%5C%2F%3E%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22link%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F22%5C%2Fdietitians-favorite-foods-for-grill%5C%22+title%3D%5C%22Dietitians%5Cu2019+Favorite+Foods+to+Grill%5C%22%3EDietitians%5Cu2019+Favorite+Foods+to+Grill%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%22image%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F22%5C%2Fdietitians-favorite-foods-for-grill%5C%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fsites%5C%2Fdefault%5C%2Ffiles%5C%2Fdietitians-favorite-foods-to-grill-juicebar_1.jpg%5C%22+%5C%2F%3E%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22link%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F22%5C%2Ffitstreak-day-22-make-most-out-elliptical%5C%22+title%3D%5C%22%23FitStreak+Day+22%3A+Make+the+Most+of+the+Elliptical%5C%22%3E%23FitStreak+Day+22%3A+Make+the+Most+of+the...%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%22image%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F22%5C%2Ffitstreak-day-22-make-most-out-elliptical%5C%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fsites%5C%2Fdefault%5C%2Ffiles%5C%2Ffitstreak-elliptical-day-22-juicebar_1.jpg%5C%22+%5C%2F%3E%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%2C%7B%22link%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F21%5C%2Fafghanistans-first-women-s-cycling-team-eyes-2016-olympics%5C%22+title%3D%5C%22Afghanistan%26%23039%3Bs+First+National+Women%5Cu2019s+Cycling+Team+Eyes+2016+Olympics%5C%22%3EAfghanistan%26%23039%3Bs+First+National+Women%5Cu2019s...%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%2C%22image%22%3A%22%3Ca+href%3D%5C%22%5C%2F2013%5C%2F05%5C%2F21%5C%2Fafghanistans-first-women-s-cycling-team-eyes-2016-olympics%5C%22%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%5C%22%5C%2Fsites%5C%2Fdefault%5C%2Ffiles%5C%2Fafghanwc_1.jpg%5C%22+%5C%2F%3E%3C%5C%2Fa%3E%22%7D%5D