Water is the most necessary nutrient for survival. Water assists with all of our basic bodily functions such as digestion, perspiration, and the flushing of toxins/wastes . Not only do we need it to survive; water is also the most ideal or smartest drink for anyone striving for better health and fitness.
On average, most people consume at least 1-2 sodas per day or 1-2 sweetened drinks (juice, coffee, tea, etc) per day. This may not seem like much, but it only takes 3,500 calories to gain one pound of fat. If one consumes 500 liquid calories each day (without burning it off through exercise) he/she should be prepared to see an extra pound on the scale at the end of the week. Unlike sodas and other sweetened drinks; water contains:
- zero calories
- zero fat
- zero sodium
- zero o sugars
So, do you know if you're drinking enough water? The average person should consume between 8-13 (8oz cups) or 5 (20 oz bottles) of water per day. However, if you work in extreme temperatures, exercise for prolonged periods, consume large amounts of protein, sodium, or caffeine; your body may require more water. The best indicator to see if you're drinking enough water is to monitor the color of your urine. If your urine is clear or pale yellow, chances are you are drinking enough water. If your urine is dark yellow you are not drinking enough water.
** I understand that we all like to consume other drinks besides water. Sometimes we just have a taste for a cold soda. Hey, were only human!! But if we want to eat and exercise smarter,our primary drink of choice should be water. Limit sodas and other sweetened drinks to 1 or 2 servings per day. One regular 20 oz soda is 2.5 servings!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment