Don’t fall prey to evil temptations. When your tastebuds call for a cold & refreshing beverage, nothing beats water. You can drink it straight up or jazz water up with fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
Regardless of how you choose to consume water, you need to drink it now! Yes, water may seem like a boring refreshment, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s why.
Stop The Excuses — Drink Water!
Lisa H. does not drink water. She has no problem opening up a diet soda for breakfast without a second thought. Then over the course of the day, she drinks a total of about one-two, 2-liter bottles of soda. I’m amazed but she’s not alone. Young and old all seem to guzzle gallons of soda and almost no water at all.
Common Excuses Used To Avoid Drinking Water
Over the years, I have heard it all. There are millions of excuses as to why people refuse to drink water. Here are a few:
- Water doesn’t have a taste, it’s too plain. I like the taste of flavored beverages. Calorie, and non-calorie, sweet beverages are addictive. Your taste buds and your brain will begin to expect and crave sweetness. Then you are hooked on eating and drinking more. In the end, it leads to eating more calories all the time. Drink water to help manage weight because it is not addictive, has no calories, and it is a tool for appetite control.
- I love the fizz, water is flat. The bubbles in sparkling drinks may look and taste appealing and may even feel good going down. However, we know what goes up must come down. And in this case, what goes down, will come up and out. Eventually, bubbles cause gas and bloating. Try switching from the fizz to drinking water. Quickly you will notice the difference in how you feel. Gas and bloat are likely to completely disappear.
- Coffee is the perfect jump start to my day, water just doesn’t do it for me. A little caffeine won’t hurt anyone. Caffeine acts as a diuretic and when large amounts are consumed, it pulls vitamins, minerals, and water from your body leading to dehydration and a need to drink more water. Therefore, coffee drinkers should make sure they drink adequate water.
- I Don’t like water. While that seems like an easy out. It isn’t. Drink water that is enhanced with fresh fruit or veggies (lime or cucumber). Additionally, try herbal flavored tea, cold or hot. Pick your favorite flavor. Moreover, there are also functional brands of water. For example, CORE and Spindrift sparkling water. Better yet, try these drinks and recipes.
- The foods & drinks I consume have water. Only about 20% of what we eat counts towards water intake. Hence, drinking water (without sugar, salt, excess caffeine) is important to stay hydrated.
What are your reasons you do not drink water?
Drinking water doesn’t have to be boring — add some berries to your next glass.
Here’s Why Drinking Water Is Important
Sixteen to twenty-eight percent of adults do not drink enough water and are dehydrated. Children, the elderly and athletes need to drink water because these groups are more prone to dehydration.
Drink water because it is the best option for preventing dehydration. Dehydration can cause weakness, dizziness, fatigue, changes in mood and thinking, constipation, lower blood pressure and contribute to kidney stones. Dehydration also has a negative effect on sports performance and muscle recovery.
Sometimes you may feel like you are drinking water but are still thirsty. In order to avoid dehydration, drink water and use an electrolyte supplement.
Drink Water For These Six Important Benefits
Water functions to:
- Aid in weight loss, since it helps to support metabolism and satiety.
- Improve skin complexion.
- Detox the body through sweat, urine and bowel movements.
- Supports digestion.
- Lower susceptibility to headaches.
- Boost energy levels.
Quite simply, water does the body good. For Lisa H. and all of you out there who just can’t seem to drink water; Just do it!
How Much Water Do You Really Need?
There is no set recommendation for how much water to drink. Drink water based on age, gender, activity level (8 oz. for every 20 minutes of activity) pregnancy/lactation, prescription medications individual metabolism, variability in environment and heat conditions.
One way to tell if you are well hydrated is to look at your urine compare. If your pee is clear or light. You are drinking enough. If it is dark, you should down a nice fresh cold glass of water.
However to help you gauge the adequacy of your water intake and pinpoint how much water to drink, follow suggestions made by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
According to the IOM, you need to drink water. Women should drink 2.7 L or 91 oz. Men should drink 3.7 L or 125 oz.
Or, use this simple calculation: drink half your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds you should drink about 100 oz. of water. If you weigh 100 pounds you may only need about 50 oz.
It is especially important for children and pregnant women to stay hydrated. Use this chart as a guideline.
Drink Water: Improve Your Sports Performance
Athletes are prone to dehydration too. Water loss through sweat as a result of high-intensity long-duration workouts can devastate performance results. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other gut issues can be avoided, just drink water. Staying hydrated between workouts, drinking before (to help prevent electrolyte depletion) and after exercise will optimize sports performance. Electrolyte replacements are particularly important if you’re breaking a sweat for longer than 30 minutes.
As little as a 2% water loss of body weight can decrease physical and mental performance. At the point, sweat results in a 5% or more loss of body weight, sports performance decreases by 30%.
Eating to fuel performance is critical too. If your child participates in sports, I have also outlined specific nutrients and nutrition guidelines for you.
No Excuses, Drink Water Now Wrap up
Water does a body good. Clean, clear refreshing water keeps you hydrated. In fact, it drives energy, helps support a youthful appearance, contributes to peak sports performance and weight loss. Most beverages on the market are loaded with artificial gunk. Some contain excess salt, sugar, and caffeine. All of which are dehydrating. There is no excuse. If you want good health and hydration, water is your drink of choice. We can’t live without it.
Jazz up water with fresh fruits and vegetables add color and taste to water without calories or the dehydrating effects of salt, sugar, and caffeine. So relax, unwind and raise your glass to drink for your health!
# Eating To Fuel Health #Drink Water #Sports Performance #Drink Recipes #Anti-Aging #Hydrate
