(ThyBlackMan.com) Water is a necessity for optimum health. There is no getting around the body’s need for water to survive. Granted some of us find the beverage refreshing and the primary answer to thirst there are many people that cannot stomach water. I am of those that love water and often drink it plain be it room temperature or cold. It is hard for some to get past the taste…or lack of taste. There are many ways to add water to your diet such as eating certain fruits and vegetables that are high in water content, but that is merely a supplement not a substitution. This is a serious matter to confront going into the summer months where it’s very hot, and dehydration becomes a serious issue. Keep in mind how you approach drinking water will also shape how your kids view.
There are many options out there if one doesn’t fancy drinking
water. Many have jumped on the flavored water bandwagon, and this must be looked at with caution. Flavored water has taken off as an answer to the old nasty plain water, but many of them have added sugar. This addition means it cannot be a water substitute, and if flavored water with sugar is intake to the same degree plain water should that can cause damage to the body. Flavor water with sugars does not help the dehydration issue.
Furthermore, it is very important to say sweet tea, or tea in general, is not the same as drinking water. Many of us love our sweet tea and drink it like water not realizing the harm we are doing our bodies. Regular sweet tea contains tannins which can strip a lot of the nutrients out of your body. Then again with tea there is the question of sugar, and simply put it’s just not water.
If drinking water is still such a painful task consider adding fruit such as lemon, or strawberries to your water…even cucumbers, to give you an added flavor without the bad sugar or other added ingredients. There is also the option of sparkling water that is zero sugar, calories and sodium. Some may prefer sparkling water that uses an alternate sweetener or just plain sparkling water for the festive fizz. With these options in mind know that dehydration is something you still want to fend off. Granted the fruit infused water, and fruit itself, helps, but they may not be as useful if you are in a serious state of dehydration.
Most people live day to day in a minor state of dehydration because many of us do not intake a healthy amount of fluids on a daily basis. As it gets hotter, and we are outdoors more, in the gyms and increasing our level of activity water intake is crucial to survival. Even if it’s not your first choice of drink it would be wise to work towards being able to drink a decent about of water plain. There may come a time where flavors are not an option, and your body will still require hydration. Furthermore, its important to teach the children the importance of drinking water…just plain water. If you start them off with it young, the tasteless drink may not seem so bad to them. Drink to your health…water that is.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
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