My husband and I just returned from Scottsdale, Arizona, where we attended the annual TriVita Galaxy of Stars. It was an awesome time of fellowship with friends, fabulous food and exciting events at the beautiful JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort.
While we were there, the weather was extremely HOT with temps around 104+, so we spent a lot of time inside the resort and also enjoying the beautiful outdoor pools. With the National Soccer finals being held there, too, it made me think about the importance of staying hydrated.
With the multitude of drink choices these days, what is the best choice for hydration? Can good pure water be adequately replaced with another enticing beverage?
The Pros and cons of water "alternatives"
by TriVita Chief Science Officer, Brazos Minshew
Let's look at some of the positive and negative aspects of so-called alternatives to water:
Ø 100% fruit juice ~ contains some vitamins, minerals and a lot of sugar. In fact, a 16-ounce glass of fruit juice contains about 50 grams of sugar and 220 calories. Fructose, or fruit sugar, reduces the rate at which we absorb fluid and can actually make you thirstier, leading to over-consumption of calories from juice.
Ø Sport drinks ~ often contain fructose or sucrose syrups, flavorings and colorings. The electrolytes, sodium and potassium are helpful for endurance-type exercise or activity, but not necessary for everyday exercise. A 16-ounce sport drink has roughly 30 grams of sugar and over 100 calories.
Ø Energy drinks ~ contain vitamins, amino acids, a lot of sugar and caffeine. Although advertised as providing more energy, what they really provide is more calories and caffeine. Added caffeine can be temporarily energizing, but often leads to a rapid dip in energy and can be potentially habit forming. An eight ounce energy drink has about 115 calories and 80 milligrams of caffeine.
Ø Fitness waters ~ these waters are laced with an assortment of nutrients, herbs, flavorings and/or sweeteners. These enhancements are usually too insufficient to have any meaningful impact on your health; plus these waters can be costly. As for calories, they can contain anywhere from 10 to 100 or more calories in a 16 ounce drink.
Ø Carbonated beverages ~ such as regular or diet sodas can be high in sugar or artificial sweeteners and caffeine. Colas are also high in phosphates, which bind with calcium and weaken bones. Regular soda can contain up to 200 or more calories for 16 ounces.
Ø Coffee, tea and lattes ~ are also very popular. But along with the caffeine, they often contain added sugars and fats which can add up to as many as 450 calories for a 16 ounce drink. Since most caffeinated products provide very few nutrients, it is typically advised to keep intake low.
Ø Flavored waters ~ are waters with a touch of natural flavoring. By itself, this is fine. Unfortunately, however, many flavored waters contain sugar (some even have more than a can of soda pop) or caffeine and other additives, all of which should be avoided.
Up your fluid intake with water-rich fruits and vegetables!
In contrast to the water alternatives above, we can get water that is good for us from food. Many fruits and vegetables, for example, are high in water content as well as antioxidants (which is a nice plus). Eat water-rich fruits and vegetables every day; 5 servings per day for children, 7 for women and 9 for men. Some fruits and vegetables you can easily include in your diet are:
Broccoli Watermelon
Spinach Apples
Cucumber Cantaloupe
Bell peppers Bananas
Cabbage Blueberries
Asparagus Grapefruit
Cauliflower Grapes
Carrots Tomatoes
Oranges Bing Cherries
Add some delicious seasonal fruits & veggies…
Ladies, while you're enjoying hot summer days, be sure to drink plenty of refreshing pure water and also remember to add some delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables to your diet. This will aid in circulation and help regulate your body's cooling system; warding off fatigue and increasing energy. You'll look and feel great on your journey to Finding a Healthier More Vibrant & Beautiful You!
No comments:
Post a Comment