These 6 Plants Are Great For Preventing Dehydration

If you’re being proactive about getting prepared it means you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure emergency water solutions are available. These would include both water storage and water filtration.

By purchasing devices to store and filter water you’re setting yourself up for future success in case all hell breaks loose and you’re thrust into a dramatic (and scary) survival situation.

Let me be quite frank with you. Just because you have survival water solutions in place doesn’t make you invincible; I wish it were the case. The truth is scenarios where you’re separated from your survival water or find yourself at the end of the life of you water supply are likely.

Which is obviously why it pays huge dividends to be familiar with other kinds of emergency water procurement.

My personal recommendation is to gain familiarity with plants which will keep you hydrated in a crisis.

Knowing which plants could keep you satisfied in a survival situation is helpful for two reasons. The first is obvious, you’re not going to die of thirst. The other is also obvious; a reliance on natural plants will keep you well fed and will supply you with macronutrients you need to experience vibrant health.

If you ever find yourself in a survival situation without your dependable water storage/filtration gear then the following plants are going to be of great help.

Discover Which Wild Plants Are Great For Preventing Dehydration

1 – Melons:

Melons of any kind are quite helpful in situations where water is scarce. The large, hollow cavity of the melon is indicative of a reserve water supply.

While you might be thinking of domesticated varieties of melon, there are actually wild varietals you can find. Known as “citrons” these melons are found extensively throughout the southern parts of the U.S.

Citrons bear a resemblance to your typical melon, but don’t have the same sweetness. Citrons are generally filled with white flesh and bunches of seeds, this is where all the water is stored. If you find them then you know you’ll be able to stay hydrated for some time.

And while there are wild melon types you shouldn’t discount other kinds of melons either. Farms all across the nation grow melons in great abundance. If you know where one of these farms is then you can either go to the farm (assuming the farmer doesn’t keep people away) OR, scour the perimeter of the farm. The seeds of many melon types are often distributed by animals which means you can find melons close by a melon farm.

2 – Squash:

One of the first foods the colonists encountered when they emigrated here back in the 16th century was squash.

The Native American relied on squash as a main food source. The seeds are edible, and the thick, pulpy “meat” of the squash contains an abundance of water.

Like melons, squash has been domesticated so the kind you see in the grocery store are quite different than what you’d find out in nature. The good news is finding wild squash is something that can be done in the event of a SHTF situation.

The bad news is I don’t have space to elaborate on tracking them down here in this blog post. I’d suggest a book on the subject at your local library.

3 – Cacti:

If you’re ever in the Southern part of the U.S. without water then relying on cacti is the obvious go to when it comes to getting water from plants.

Theresa Crouse writes:

“Plants that have adapted by altering their physical structure so that they can survive in drought conditions are called xerophytes. These include all forms of cacti, including aloe and smaller cactus plants that you can easily grow in a little garden.

Prickly pears are particularly suited for this because they provide a ton of water, they’re pretty and they taste good, too. Prickly pears, or Opuntia cacti, grow both pads (leaves) and fruits that are edible and good sources of water. The fruits ripen in late September and are bright red with a bright orange center. Others are yellow on the outside and green on the inside and aren’t quite as sweet as the red ones. You can eat them raw or make them into syrup, jellies and even liquor!”

4 – Berries:

Berries of all sorts are probably the most prolific water storing food to find in the wild.

It’s not at all difficult to go on a hike in many parts of the U.S. before you stumble upon some wild berries.

Obviously one of the biggest considerations here is guaranteeing the berry you’re eating is safe to eat. If you’re unsure then you might want to check out my blog post on the steps you should take to test a plant for its safety and edibility.

To give you a better idea how to accomplish this I’ve included several videos which explain foraging for edible berries.

The bottom line is many of these plump, hearty berries are loaded with water and they can help keep you adequately hydrated in a crisis.

5 – Dandelion:

The ubiquitous dandelion is one of the most readily available plants to use for survival.

The entire plant is edible and it contains quite a bit of water by weight. While not as rich in water supply as many of the other plants on the list the simple fact that it’s so readily available is a reason to eat it.

The biggest downside is if you’re relying on dandelion for most of your water needs you might encounter a different problem associated with eating an all vegetable diet. That is the excess fiber of the dandelion can lead to excessive bouts of diarrhea, thus negating any of the hydration you managed to glean from the plant.

Do your best to also find another food source rich in protein and fat to help out with keeping food solid and to help balance nutrient intake.

6 – Vines:

You can safely use most vines for water.

Vines are present on the structure of the plant to help transport water from the root to the fruit, thus there is often water inside of them.

One big takeaway here is not all vines are safe, though many are. To determine if a vine is safe you should cut it and then see what color liquid comes out. A milky sap indicates the vine is unsafe to eat. If it smells “off” or has a slightly discolored fluid it might not be safe. If clear, free flowing, non-smelly water comes out then you’re in the clear.

Another item of note, the vine’s exterior can also bring trouble, typically they contain chemicals which are known irritants (these chemicals are there to prevent insects and animals from devouring them). So, if you find a vine and cut it open and see no milky sap and the liquid seems to be clean water here’s your next step.

“If no sap is noticed, or if the sap that is observed is clear and without aroma, remove a 24-inch section by severing the higher end first and then the lower end. If the lower end is cut first, the water contained within the vine is drawn up by capillary action and far less water will drain out by the time that the upper end is severed.”

Then put a small amount in your mouth and let it rest for a few moments. If there’s no burning, and no other unpleasant side effects you’re likely in the clear.

So gather as many vines as you can, let the water drip into your mouth (as opposed to sucking on it) and get hydrated.

Many plants contain water which you could use to stay hydrated.

Examples of which other Plants Are Great For Preventing Dehydration include:

• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Aloe Vera
• Mint
• Sage

And many, many more.

Of course after you read all of this I’m still going to beat a dead horse and recommend you keep a water filtration system on hand.

If you need one, or want to get some for friends and family I highly recommend you get the LifeStraw.

You can get your LifeStraw by clicking here