What Foods You Shouldn't Be Eating In Hot Weather

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- In weather like this, we're willing to do just about anything to stay cool.

You want to make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids, but staying hydrated comes down to more than just how much we're drinking. That's because there are certain foods that are dehydrating us, and you might not even know they're doing it.

Certain foods are more dehydrating than others, and on hot and humid days like we've had this week, you're going to want to avoid those foods. We're mostly talking about foods that are high in sugar, protein and fiber.

Dietitians said the body uses a lot of water to metabolize these kinds of foods. And that depletes water reserves, which in many cases, leads to dehydration.

"Foods that are high in sugar like your candy bars, doughnuts, ice cream, muffins and also foods that are highly processed, like breads pasta and grains. People don't often think that those foods are dehydrating but they do and that's why I always recommend getting your carbs from vegetables and fruit," said Cassie Bjork, who runs DietitianCassie.com. "Not only do you get all the nutrients from them, but you also get the hydration from them as well."

We used to think coffee dehydrates with its sugar and caffeine, but actually new research shows that coffee really only has a dehydrating effect if you consume large amounts of it, more than 500 to 600 milligrams or more than five to seven cups a day. So, the good news for many coffee lovers is we can rest easy but doctors do say you should still pick water as your first choice.